Love · FORTUNE
Fortune #10
Good fortune
When your partner has good news, curious attention may mean more than a quick compliment. Give their success room.
QUOTE CARD
A quote for you
“คนที่ดีช่วยส่งเสริมข้อดีของผู้อื่น และไม่ผลักข้อเสียให้หนักขึ้น”
— ขงจื๊อ
นักปรัชญาจีนโบราณ ผู้วางรากฐานจริยธรรมและความสัมพันธ์ในสังคมตามแนวขงจื๊อ
- Person
- Confucius
- Source work
- Analects 12.16
- Source text
- The superior man seeks to perfect the admirable qualities of men, and does not seek to perfect their bad qualities.
STORY & REFLECTION
Good news that was not minimized
Research-based illustration · Responding to a partner's good news
Illustrative scene: One partner comes home with news of a short study grant. The other is tired and nearly says only “That's nice,” then turns and asks, “How did it feel when you found out?”
The grant recipient describes preparation no one had seen. They later discuss scheduling. The celebration is not immediately swallowed by logistics.
Research by Shelly Gable and colleagues examined responses to positive events and found that the way partners respond to good news relates to well-being and relationship quality. Interested follow-up helps a person feel that their success has room in the relationship.
Give good news a little time before moving to its complications. Your partner should be able to tell the whole proud story.
Reflection
Sincere joy can help both people grow.
A small action today
Celebrate one achievement without comparison.
A question to reflect on
Did you ask what your partner was proudest of in their latest good news?