In his book, Think Like a Monk, Jay Shetty talks about Mudita, which is ‘the principle of taking sympathetic or unselfish joy in the good fortune of others.’ I love this word and this idea. I like to believe that I express joy when someone share a good fortune story with me, but I probably don’t give it the time or attention it needs. Someone tells me something wonderful that has happened, I respond with mudita, but quickly change the subject to a topic where I can express compassion (sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others). Tell me your sad story; let us spend time on that. Let me be sorrowful with you; let express empathy.
But why not empathy for your joy? Empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, can be applied to the full array of human feelings. It’s not that I don’t give it for joyful happenings, but I don’t give it much time.
But why not empathy for your joy? Empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, can be applied to the full array of human feelings. It’s not that I don’t give it for joyful happenings, but I don’t give it much time.