Why am I not happy for other people?!
Question: I was talking to my friend earlier, and she revealed to me that when she tells me something going on in her life, she feels that I'm not happy for her. She says that I say something like, "that's cool" and don't ask any further questions about it.
This has got me wondering, why am I not happy for other people when good things happen to them? She's my friend and I should care, but when she tells me something good going on in her life I'm not "happy for her". I have a great life, it's not like I'm jealous of her, I have a wonderful family and everything I could ever need. Should I seek professional help? Please don't be mean :(
Answers: I was talking to my friend earlier, and she revealed to me that when she tells me something going on in her life, she feels that I'm not happy for her. She says that I say something like, "that's cool" and don't ask any further questions about it.
This has got me wondering, why am I not happy for other people when good things happen to them? She's my friend and I should care, but when she tells me something good going on in her life I'm not "happy for her". I have a great life, it's not like I'm jealous of her, I have a wonderful family and everything I could ever need. Should I seek professional help? Please don't be mean :(
Maybe you think you are better then her therefore dont have to act happy since she is beneath you..just a thought.
Humans are not, with very exceptional cases, born with compassion. It was one of the Values of Life the Siddhartha was seeking an answer to on his way to becoming Buddha. Compassion takes practice and role modeling. Do others around you, your family, get excited and overtly happy for other people's good fortune. Take yourself to a quiet place where you will be undisturbed. Try to go to this place for 15 minutes a day and sit quietly, feel the deepness inside of you, pulling your consciousness inward, meeting the darkness. In that darkness imagine different situations where others have had good fortune, even people on game shows. From your center, fell an opening, like a camera lens, opening to see the light just as opening your eyes. Feel the warmth the light brings. The happiness that can only come when you are in touch with what is outside of you. Imagine those happy people telling you every day. Soon without effort, you will find yourself smiling. You are learning what compassion feels like. When you are out, be observant. Out for a snack with fiend's? Notice the people at the next table sharing good news and absorb their joy, just like sunlight thru the window. See how they relate. You want to strive to be a better person as we all need to do. Congratulations on recognizing that in your self! You are very in touch with the INSIDE YOU!
We can't be happy for others when we are not happy with ourselves :)