We recently made an impromptu decision to go to Melbourne for AFL Grand Final Day.
We weren’t successful in the ticket ballot so watched the game on the big screen in Federation Square amid a sea of purple Freemantle fans.
A small contingent of Brisbane fans were around us.
With four minutes left, Freemantle had what looked like a solid victory and the purple army was buzzing.
Unexpectedly, the Lions came to life and scored four goals in quick succession just before the hooter sounded.
They had done it again! Every Lions fan was on their feet turning toward one another to share the celebratory joy.
I admit to hugging complete strangers!
A Swedish proverb says, “Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow”.
Celebrating good news or happy moments with others amplifies the feeling and makes the experience richer.
In that moment I felt bonded to those who were as excited as I was.
My phone went off with congratulatory messages from family and friends.
Most are not particularly keen fans, but they wanted to share in my joy.
Neuroscientists call this sympathetic joy.
When we see someone experiencing joy, the same regions of our brains light up as when we feel happy ourselves.
Essentially, our minds are wired to share in each other’s happiness, creating a connection that goes beyond words.
We are social beings who thrive when we support each other through both the good and bad times.
Our brains activate similarly when we feel sympathy for someone’s sadness.
By cultivating an atmosphere of shared joy and sorrow, we can build stronger, more supportive communities.
This not only enriches individual lives but also contributes to the collective well-being of society.
