Good for Them, Good for You: JB's Monday Momentum #31
Why Celebrating Success—Even When It’s Not Yours—Leads to a Better Life
Estimated reading time: four minutes
Welcome to Monday Momentum, the weekly newsletter where I discuss practical wisdom, uncovering insights to enhance our lives one thoughtful moment at a time. While I have confidence in the ideas I write about, I am still learning them. I acknowledge that what works for me may not work for everyone. Take each idea as you see fit and let me know what you think!
Hello friend,
Last week, I ran my first half marathon. It was tough, very tough. But more than the physical challenge, what stood out was the overwhelming sense of community. Everywhere I looked, people were rooting for each other; runners encouraging fellow runners, spectators cheering on strangers, everyone wanting the person next to them to succeed. It was a beautiful thing, and it made me wonder—what would life look like if we carried that same mindset into more of our daily lives?
If you missed the last edition—“One Year of Monday Momentum: JB's Monday Momentum #30”—you can click here to check it out.
A Question I am Contemplating:
Why is it so important to embrace the success of others?
Jealousy is a natural emotion. When we see others succeeding—whether it’s someone else landing the internship or job you wanted or a friend hitting a fitness goal you’ve been struggling with—it’s easy to feel a sense of comparison. That reaction is holding us back. Instead of seeing someone else’s success as a threat, we should see it as an opportunity.
The truth is, celebrating the success of others doesn’t take anything away from us. If anything, it benefits us. Seeing others win should serve as motivation, a reminder that success is possible, and proof that if they can do it, we can too. Letting jealousy consume us does the opposite; it distracts us, slows us down, and turns our focus outward in the worst way possible.
This applies everywhere. Take politics, for example. Too often, when an opposing party wins an election, people root for their failure just to be "right." But what sense does that make? If a leader succeeds, their policies and decisions impact everyone. Wishing for their failure is essentially hoping for the worst for yourself and those around you. This mindset isn’t just petty; it’s counterproductive. Hoping someone fails just so you can say “I told you so” is one of the most selfish ways to think.
Aristotle’s concept of philia outlines the different types of friendships1. The highest form is when we care for someone’s well-being as deeply as we care for our own. In these friendships, Aristotle says, your friend becomes "another self." Their victories feel like your own, their happiness becomes part of yours. Now, obviously, we can’t have this level of connection with everyone, but the mindset is what matters. The more we support and uplift those around us, the more we create a life that is rich in relationships, opportunity, and self-growth.
Celebrating others' success doesn’t mean losing sight of your own. Your ambitions and progress should always be your priority. Recognizing someone else’s achievements doesn’t take away from your own—it only expands what’s possible and serves as a reminder of what can be achieved.
The mindset shift is simple:
Jealousy holds you back. Inspiration pushes you forward.
Rooting for others creates momentum—not just for them, but for you too.
No one ever got better by resenting someone else’s success.
At the end of the day, why wouldn’t you want those around you to succeed? The better they do, the better the world around you becomes. And the better the world around you becomes, the more opportunities you have to grow.
You never lose by supporting others but always lose when jealousy takes over. Choose the mindset that moves you forward. Root for people. Say “good for them” more often. You’ll be surprised at how much better life feels when you do.
Quote on compassion and our interconnectedness:
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” — Mother Teresa
Goal for the Week:
Be disciplined with what I want to get done
I need to get better at following through on what I say I’ll do. If I plan to run six miles, I need to run all six instead of stopping at five. Same with studying—if I set a goal for a certain number of hours, I should put in that time. It’s not really about the extra mile or hour making a huge difference in my well-being. It’s more about sticking to my word and building the discipline to do what I say I will.
Golden Son — Pierce Brown (70% done)
Steve Jobs — Walter Isaacson
What I’m listening to (one podcast, one artist, one song):
Oz Ocampo talks international scouting and discovering Yordan Alvarez: Crush City Territory
Ludovico Einaudi
“1979” — The Smashing Pumpkins
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated for the next edition and feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Take care,
James
I originally learned this idea from The Good Life Method by Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko. It’s a great philosophical read that is very accessible.
Congrats on finishing your first 1/2 - terrific accomplishment! This is a very important and timely topic James. Supporting others is an excellent way to build community and community building is what we need now more than ever.
Great topic and perspective. Peer success is where people get tripped up, as opposed to success for those older or younger than you. And congrats on the run ... now just work to improve your time!