One of the starkest contrasts between the presidential candidates of 2024 involves their facial demeanors. While Donald Trump puts on a stern, angry façade, Kamala Harris is often seen smiling. Anger versus joy. Which is really a symbol of strength?

In my personal history, when I feel strong, capable, competent and on-top-of-the-world, I have often completed a difficult goal, like mastery of a Liszt piano composition. What a thrill! My heart is buoyed and I smile easily at anyone and everyone. When I have had a bad day and feel overwhelmed, when I lack confidence in my capabilities, when I doubt myself, I am gruff and sullen, giving off a vibe of anger.

Anger reveals doubt and lack of confidence. It often accompanies people who try to make themselves feel bigger, better, and more important by stripping others of their dignity. People who behave like that are called bullies.

In my world, joy spells confidence and strength.

Remember the childhood fable that describes a contest between the north wind and the sun? The two decide to test their strength and see who can remove a solitary traveler’s coat. The north wind goes first and blows ferociously, outdoing itself in its bid to strip a man of his coat. No matter how hard the wind blows, the man draws his coat closer around himself and clutches it tighter. Then the sun takes a turn. It shines warmly on the traveler until the man sheds his coat voluntarily, soaking up the sunshine.

Joy is like that.

Another area that might need closer scrutiny is the nature of true wealth. Some of the world’s richest men in their acquisition of dollars tend to support the angry, bitter candidate, the one who feels powerful because he can make others miserable.  Where it really counts though, the joyful candidate is far wealthier—in kindness, compassion, and generosity that morph into a wealth of public support, small dollar donations, election volunteers, and crowd sizes at rallies.

Which candidate is wealthier in things that really matter? It’s clear to me that joy yields far greater rewards than anger.

The prevalence of disinformation and misinformation assaulting us from every source—from mainstream media to social media—makes it difficult to determine what is factual and what isn’t. Both sides level accusations at each other that echo distrust, fear of ulterior motives, or conspiracies to gain unlimited power over the country and the world.

How do we know what to believe? How can we find the truth?

Henry David Thoreau, long recognized for his stand on civil disobedience, wrote, “What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.” I cannot adopt the bitter, vengeful tactics that I find so repulsive. Do Trump supporters view their neighbors, relatives, and co-workers repulsive just because we seek joy in our lives?

It behooves us all to examine with care what we hear and read in our search for underlying truths. For me, the power of joy and the promise it delivers speak very well for truth.