Why Do People Not Let Others Stay Happy?

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Have you ever noticed that whenever you are genuinely happy — smiling, enjoying your work, or simply living a peaceful moment — someone suddenly says something that reduces your happiness? This doesn’t just happen to me; it happens to almost everyone. The real question is: why do people often feel uncomfortable seeing others happy?
In my opinion, one major reason is comparison. Humans naturally compare themselves with others. When someone sees another person happy and satisfied even with fewer resources, it creates a strange discomfort inside them. They start thinking, “Why is he happy while I am not?” Without realizing it, they may say something sarcastic or negative that hurts the other person. The truth is, happiness is not fully connected to money or status; it is mostly connected to inner peace.
I personally experienced this many times. Once, I uploaded a very simple picture on social media — nothing luxurious, no expensive place, just a normal moment that made me smile. Some people appreciated it warmly, but a few comments were full of sarcasm. At first, it really hurt me. I kept thinking, I didn’t do anything wrong, so why this negativity? Later I understood that the problem was not my happiness; the problem was their mindset and mood. That day I promised myself that I would never hand over my happiness to other people’s attitudes.
Another time, I shared a small tea gathering photo with friends. Someone commented, “Looks like you’re enjoying too much luxury!” while in reality it was just a very ordinary meetup. That moment made me realize that some people view happiness through a negative lens. They assume that if someone is smiling, it must be showing off. But the truth is, every smile carries a personal story that only the person himself truly knows.
The real issue is also the habit of negative thinking. Some people become so used to finding faults in everything that even joy seems suspicious to them. They try to pull others down to feel better about themselves. But in reality, reducing someone else’s happiness never improves our own life; it only makes our hearts heavier.
Life is already full of struggles. If we learn to participate in each other’s small joys, say a kind word, or simply smile sincerely, it can make a big difference. Happiness does not decrease when shared — it multiplies. We also need to learn not to take every negative comment to heart, because not every word deserves space in our mind.
“Live and let live, stay happy and let others stay happy.”