by Kate | Nov 19, 2025 | Chronic healing, joy
Mudita is a Pali word that doesn’t have a direct English translation. It is taking joy in other people’s good fortune. Phrases used to describe it include “sympathetic joy,” “appreciative joy,” and “altruistic joy.” You have probably practiced mudita in your life....
by Kate | Nov 12, 2025 | joy
“Sympathetic joy”, psychologist Jeremy Adam Smith explains, “is sometimes called appreciative joy, empathic joy, vicarious reward, or (more broadly) positive empathy.” It’s the goodness we feel when we are happy about someone else’s good fortune. If someone we...
by Kate | Nov 5, 2025 | joy, kind promises
I listened to the Joy Lab Podcast Episode 103. Sympathetic Joy & Emotional Contagion before writing this post. What it is The phrase “sympathetic joy” comes from a word used in Buddhism: mudita. It’s a Pali word that means “taking delight in someone else’s good...
by Kate | Jul 22, 2025 | Chronic healing, chronic illness, Delight of the day, joy
When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a friend sent me Norman Cousins’ Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration.” It’s a personal account of Cousins’ recovery from a debilitating illness. It...
by Kate | Jul 16, 2025 | joy, kind promises
Playing isn’t just for kids. It’s good for adults as well. Numerous studies found play boosts your overall well-being, helps you cope with stress, and improves your physical health. It increases creativity, sharpens your wit, and puts you in a better mood. Anything...
by Kate | Jul 9, 2025 | joy
(Before writing this post I listened to Joy Lab episode 172: making space for flow and fun (encore).) We all need good food, fresh air, movement, loving relationships, and fun to lead healthy lives. Psychologist Henry Emmons assures us “we don’t need to teach you how...
