Freudenfreude

To end on a positive note, let's talk a little about freudenfreude, which is the opposite of schadenfreude—it's the enjoyment of another's success. It's also a subset of empathy.

Finding pleasure in another person’s good fortune is what social scientists call “freudenfreude,” a term (inspired by the German word for “joy”) that describes the bliss we feel when someone else succeeds, even if it doesn’t directly involve us. Freudenfreude is like social glue, said Catherine Chambliss, a professor of psychology at Ursinus College. It makes relationships “more intimate and enjoyable.”