Over 1 million copies sold: The Personal MBA: Master The Art of Business »
Josh Kaufman is the bestselling author of books on business, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition, applied psychology, and practical wisdom. About Josh Kaufman »
Schadenfreude is experiencing pleasure at the misfortunes of others. A rival suddenly goes bankrupt, an enemy takes a fall, karma finally catches up to a shady dealer… and you smile at the news, without a touch of consideration or remorse.
An ugly reaction, really, but it's an easy emotion to experience.
Mudita (Muditā in Pāli) is the opposite: experiencing pleasure from the well-being of others. A rival achieves a big goal, an enemy becomes a millionaire, a shady dealer wins a prestigious award… and you smile at the news, without a touch of anger or envy.
A lovely reaction, really, but it's a difficult emotion to experience.
That's because mudita is a skill, and skills only get better if you practice.
Source: English Language & Usage (Stack Exchange) - What's the antonym for Schadenfreude?
What's the antonym for Schadenfreude?