Have you ever wondered… about mudita? I have. It is another one of the four brahmaviharas in Buddhism. Mudita stands for empathetic joy, being able to relate to and revel in the good fortune and delight of those around you. Are you quick to be happy for others, or are you more prone to jealousy or envy instead? Your current reaction here says a lot to be honest. Recognizing it is an ideal first step in order to correct and improve it.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people going by.
-Louis Armstrong
What does it say about you if you cannot be happy for others? I think it points to some part of your life that you are not at peace with. The grass is not always greener on the other side. You cannot trade or jump lanes in life, so it does not make sense to stare forlornly elsewhere. Start finding and appreciating the joy that is already awaiting all around. What if you chose to share in the joy of others instead of feeling down about it?
A joy shared is a joy doubled.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mudita was very tough for me to effectively practice in the beginning. I could feel the pangs of jealousy arising whenever I found myself wishing for something similar. Now, with more authentic ownership of my life and what plans I am making for the future, I can truly empathize with others joyously for their excitements and celebrations. I find it very uplifting to let the moments and emotions build upon one another collectively because our energies are complementing and cooperating. If I start comparing and playing the “what if” or “I wish” game instead, then I start missing out on joyful opportunities in life.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
-Theodore Roosevelt
Empathetic joy takes conscious effort to mindfully and routinely practice. A stoic quote I recently saw by Epictetus said, “progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.” Change does not need to be constant, but it should be consistent and compounding. Are you putting in the work to be the best and highest version of yourself, or are you foolishly content with being among the lowest animals?
The serpent that stings us means to hurt us and rejoices as it does so; the lowest animal can imagine the pain of others. But to imagine the joy of others and to rejoice at it is the highest privilege of the highest animals.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
I know that last question was a bit of a difficult challenge. However, I will not shy away from any ugly truths. In my opinion, it is important to not gloss over or sugarcoat the mindsets that mean the most. Mudita feels like an extremely valuable virtue to harness and hone holistically. These moments give me opportunities to speak sincerely while still trying to maintain a kind and caring tone. Regardless, my joy will remain undestroyed.
The greatest joy, according to the works of Francis Assisi, is that you can endure everything, you can even suffer slander and physical pain, and at the end you are able to feel no animosity toward these sufferings, but you feel joy, because you have faith; such joy cannot be destroyed, either by evil people or by your own suffering.
-Leo Tolstoy
Are you joyously connecting with your current surroundings? Why or why not? Do you realize that it is only you who is holding yourself back? Can you begin to empathize joyously with others? Imagine their joy; bask in it alongside them. It takes time to practice and perfect this power, but I strongly believe that it is well worth it. We are all moving through life with our lanes next to each other. Why not share more of the journey and help one another more along the way? You may be surprised by how you are repaid.
Empathy is forgetting oneself in the joys and sorrows of another, so much so that you actually feel that the joy or sorrow experienced by another is your own joy and sorrow. Empathy involves complete identification with another.
-Dada Vaswani
Mudita means so much to me. I hope it will also begin to mean a lot to you. Please know that I will have empathetic joy ready and waiting to share with you, too :) <3
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell. Stay wondrous, y’all.