One Word Celebrates Pain. The Other, Pure Joy

We all know “Schadenfreude.”
But what about “Freudenfreude”?

Yes, schadenfreude made it into English.
It’s that feeling of secret satisfaction when someone else stumbles.
Not very kind. But very human.

But here’s a word we don’t hear often:
freudenfreude.
The joy we feel when someone else succeeds.

Psychologist Marisa G. Franco explains it beautifully:

“When we feel happy for others, their joy becomes our joy.”

Freudenfreude helps us build stronger relationships. It turns comparison into connection. And it reminds us that someone else’s win doesn’t mean we’ve lost.

So here’s a gentle nudge for today.

Let’s…
… celebrate someone.
… send them a message.
… say, “I’m proud of you.”

Their joy can become ours.

When was the last time you felt freudenfreude?