The Power of Feeling Happy For Others

​We all love to love love. Yeah, I said that. Despite driving us mad from time to time and giving us both the best and worst moments of our lives, there is something that will always make us feel drawn to it; whether we are sick of it or not.

The reason behind so many failed relationships I believe is the fact that we prioritize the cuddles, the kisses, the flowers, you know, the natural part of love instead of the things that truly matter.

And no, it's not about just loving your significant other. Love is a whole lot more than just loving.

Let me tell you a short story.

My boyfriend is a musician, and as if it wasn't hard enough to succeed in the discipline already, we live in Uruguay. Yeah, that small country between Brazil and Argentina.

Doors have been shut right on his face, and despite feeling like the whole world was against him, he pulled through, and last night he got the chance to play a gig in which the star of the evening was his band for a change.

We’re talking about an Uruguayan metalcore-meets-nu-metal emergent band having a whole damn room full of people singing along to their songs.

What struck me the most was the sense of happiness that invaded me when I saw him on stage, pouring his heart out through his art and receiving such an intense feedback from his fans. And it’s not like I haven’t felt contentment for his achievements before but last night was different. Last night was deep and just plain raw happiness.

It was a mixture of proudness and fulfillment in his achievements, in his conquered goals because I was able to live the whole process with him. I remember the sweat, the tears, the pressure he put himself in to get everything done.

What happened last night​, it was all on him. And in a sense, that’s what makes me feel undoubtedly proud of him.

When you’ve known someone for so many years, you have connected with them at a deeper emotional level; there’s special commitment between the two of you in which you are setting yourself to share your stories with that person. One who has been there in your most significant successes of your life as well as your worst failures; and they have stuck to you either way.

Because it's not about loving them anymore, that just goes without saying.

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It's about wanting them to achieve pure and genuine happiness.

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I’m aware most people are unable to be genuinely happy for others, even if that person is someone they truly love, but caring about someone else’s achievements and feeling as content for them as if they were your own, makes a huge difference in the way you approach life itself.

It helps you realize that another person obtaining something doesn’t take away the chance from you getting it yourself as well.

Appreciate their journey that got them where they are and let it inspire you to get your ass moving to achieve your own set of goals and ideals, once and for all.

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Let the fact that their objectives were achieved be a factual proof that dreams do actually come true if you work enough.

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Feeling genuine happiness and excitement for others is possible, it doesn’t demand you to be in an eight-year-long romantic relationship, it doesn't even require you to know the person at all.

All it asks of you is a new perspective and fresher way of thinking that other people’s gains are never your losses.

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Image Source: I, II, III