Today one of my clients introduced me to a wonderful new word — Mudita. Here’s what the invaluable Wikipedia has to say about it:

Mudita is a Buddhist (Pali and Sanskrit) word meaning rejoicing in others’ good fortune … The term mudita is usually translated as “sympathetic” or “altruistic” joy, the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being rather than begrudging it. Many Buddhist teachers interpret mudita more broadly as referring to an inner spring of infinite joy that is available to everyone at all times, regardless of circumstances. The more deeply one drinks of this spring, the more secure one becomes in one’s own abundant happiness, and the easier it then becomes to relish the joy of other people as well.

This, I believe, is why life coaching is so satisfying. Mudita.