How to Find Real Joy in the Happiness of Others (And how it will change your life!)

When something bad happens to someone you dislike, do you feel a little glee inside? Maybe a lot of glee? Or do you cheer when the villain in a movie or TV show gets what’s coming to them? There is a German word for the feeling of joy we get from the suffering or misfortune of others: schadenfreude. The other day, I wondered: is there an opposite of schadenfreude? There is, and it’s called freudenfreude. This is when you find joy in the success and happiness of others. (It’s an English word created from a German word where “freuden” means “joy.”) Today’s episode is all about why we experience schadenfreude, its high cost, and how to find real happiness in the joy of others. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/466 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices