Reflect

Tammy Anderson is a school crossing guard in Chicago who does much more than hold up a stop sign for kids to safely cross the street. She dances and waves, calls people by name, and wishes them a great day — putting a smile on the faces of children, parents, and the school staff. But this is more than a story about Tammy’s joy; it’s a powerful example of what researchers call positive empathy — the human ability to notice and let in other people’s joy. Dr. Kelly McGonigal at The Greater Good Science Center explains that this capacity for positive empathy not only improves our own emotional state but is also associated with a desire and willingness to help others. Having a day when joy feels out of reach? Noticing other people’s joy can be a real boost.