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Joy, Multiplied: A Lesson in Celestial Math
A change in mindset regarding other people’s success and good fortune can bring you more joy. And in the Lord’s math, that means the miracle of multiplication.
Let’s talk about something that can make your life better and happier.
But first, think about what you would do in the following situation:
Your friend excitedly tells you that they got a perfect score on their math test. You’ve always wanted to get a perfect score on a math test, but you’ve never quite gotten there. How do you react?
Do you say: (a) “I wish I could get a perfect score, but my teacher never explains things well enough” or (b) “That’s great! You must have studied really hard”?
If you thought, “Duh—(b),” then you’re already in a position to increase joy in your life and the lives of others. But you also might not be aware of how many people would answer with (a) if they were honest—and just how difficult (b) would be for them in a real-life situation.
So, here’s one key to a better, happier life: Learn to be genuinely glad for the success and good fortune of others.
We often hear that we should follow the Savior’s example and have compassion for others. But there are two sides to compassion. Yes, we should “weep with them that weep,” but we should also “rejoice with them that do rejoice” (Romans 12:15). Doing so can make us happier and better people.
Abundance vs. Scarcity
The Lord has given us a principle related to material things that also applies to other things like joy, praise, and love: “There is enough and to spare” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:17).
Here the Lord is pointing us to a mindset of abundance (“There’s plenty for everyone—and then some”) rather than one of scarcity (“There’s not enough to go around”).
Shifting our mindset toward abundance can change our behavior dramatically. Rather than hoarding things for ourselves, we freely share.
This is especially true when it comes to things like joy, praise, and love.
Of course, sometimes we’re competing with others for the same thing. But even then, we can still find joy in others’ success and maybe even define our own success differently. For a personal definition of success, a good place to start might be “Doing my best and learning from mistakes and challenges.”
You are not diminished by someone else’s success. Your joy is not decreased when someone else’s joy increases. There’s an inexhaustible supply of joy available for everyone.
Celestial Math
The “celestial math” of joy is about more than mere addition; it’s about multiplication. If we can learn to find joy in other people’s joy, we will do more than just add to our joy; we will multiply joy for ourselves and others.
“True joy multiplies when it is shared.” That’s true of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it’s true of being genuinely happy for others when they’ve earned success or received needed blessings from God.
Covenant Rejoicing
For those of us who have made covenants with God, being happy for others is a quality of heart that flows from trying to follow the Savior and the second great commandment: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39; Leviticus 19:18).
When we make covenants, we “are willing to mourn with those that mourn; … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:9). Naturally, then, we are also willing to rejoice with those that rejoice over the good things happening in their lives.
A Test
Here are some questions you might ask yourself as a test of where you stand on being happy for others:
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When someone else succeeds or gets praise, what’s your first thought? How does it make you feel?
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Do you covet others’ joy like you might covet their possessions? Do you resent it?
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When you react, do you talk more about yourself or the other person?
How you answer these questions can make a big difference in how much joy you (and those around you) will experience.
So, make your life better and happier. Maximize your joy by multiplying it. Be happy for others. It’s simple, and it’s powerful.