There is a Buddhist term “Sympathetic Joy”- I believe it’s called “Mudita”. It’s just what it sounds like- Sympathetically feeling joy for or with someone. It’s a powerful practice that can help you raise your mood and energy, connect, and feel gratitude. Here’s how I see it and have found it to be very helpful.
Com-passion is “suffering with”. Compassionate action is an enduring energy that would be like feeling our own or someone’s pain and then finding the remedy. Sympathetic joy is feeling someone’s joy and happiness and really enjoying it with them and for them. Why is this an important concept and practice? To hear of someone’s joy or well being and internally feel and say to yourself “wow that’s amazing, I’m so happy for them” is a great supportive way to connect. To feel it fully and let them know will bring them even more joy. It’s also a way to let them AND yourself know that you and them deserve that happiness and you wish it to continue.
If you find yourself blocking emotion- whether from trauma or conditioning- practicing sympathetic joy can help you take the cap off. If you learned to block one emotion, you probably blocked others. So feeling that joy of someone else is also letting yourself know to let it land and really appreciate it.
In a culture of gossip media and news, it’s important to do some technology fasting (strong boundaries) and not take in those messages. Instead, look for ways and reasons to be happy for yourself or others and REALLY feel it. Even if you feel low and it’s like “oh they’re having a great day, why am I not?”- THAT is the time to practice. Just let it go and say inwardly- they’re so joyful, that’s so great, wishing that continues for them. Your day might change a lot.
In Buddhism, there are aspirations where you wish for the health and happiness of all beings- the freedom from suffering- and equanimity and peace of mind. All beings. It’s wishing others well. And when we do that we are simultaneously wishing those things for ourselves- we are interconnected.
Practice. You’ll notice small shifts and sometimes bigger ones. And those moments add up.
Thank you reading and I hope that is very helpful for you.
Have a great day. Wishing you health and strength.
