It's a cliche, like crying at weddings, when I was younger I didn't understand this behaviour and it never happened to me so it was outside my experience. As far as I was concerned I cried when I was sad and smiled/laughed when I was happy.

In recent years (I'm in my 40s) crying in happy times/at good news happens more and more, and it can be embarrassing depending on the situation.

My friend told me he and his wife are expecting a baby after years of IVF and I almost burst into tears - it was all I could do to keep myself together. I still feel tearful now a day later just thinking about it - I'm so happy for them, and my eyes well up.

I don't think it's something I can change, it's such an overwhelming response, but it makes me curious about why I react like this. It's like my emotions are back to front.

[Sunflower123]

I think you're doing just fine. I've noticed that I tear up at other's happy news these days. Happy tears. I think it's ok....it means you're very empathetic.

[Monarch Butterfly]

I agree with Jennifer. You feel happy or elated for others good fortune or news. Tears of happiness. There's nothing wrong with it.

[Thunder Bow]

You are very sensitive. You have healed.

[MickeyCheeky]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it - if anything, I found it sweet.

[wolfgaze]

I experience this too when I observe something which touches me deeply and evokes a heart-based empathetic response .... Like if I found something to be extremely heart-warming and which evokes joy...

Here's a good example of something which can make me feel this way... Those touching videos of dogs that were rescued from harsh conditions, and then cared for and ultimately found themselves in a loving/nurturing home and their condition has completely turned around in a positive light...

Don't change a thing! This is completely natural... As far as why it happens? I suspect it has to do with sensing/feeling/experiencing a state of enhanced 'connectedness' with other 'beings' (whether it be humans or even animals)... It's like in that moment your usual personal boundaries and perception of 'separateness' temporarily disappears and you feel extremely connected with others and what they are experiencing in their lives... There is a deeper truth of existence being revealed by your experiences - and it has to do with the connectedness (oneness) behind everything (all that is).

[Unrigged64072835]

It's okay to cry when you're happy. I do cry when I hear moving music or see something happy. I guess I'm more sensitive to things, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Thank you all of you for your thoughtful replies, it really is something for me to think on.

I think I am fairly sensitive, and I do restrain myself (I'm British!) but maybe it's the restraining that is tied in with the tears. Sometimes I'd just really like to hug people - like my friends who are having a baby - but I hold back, it's not the done thing, I made do with an arm squeeze instead. I just feel this overwhelming rush of tender feelings for people - and they aren't even necessarily close friends, so it's not the 'done thing'.

Wolfgaze what you wrote:

Don't change a thing! This is completely natural... As far as why it happens? I suspect it has to do with sensing/feeling/experiencing a state of enhanced 'connectedness' with other 'beings' (whether it be humans or even animals)... It's like in that moment your usual personal boundaries and perception of 'separateness' temporarily disappears and you feel extremely connected with others and what they are experiencing in their lives... There is a deeper truth of existence being revealed by your experiences - and it has to do with the connectedness (oneness) behind everything (all that is).

That is so amazingly incisive - I didn't have the words to describe what I was feeling but you have described it so well, thank you. That is exactly the feeling I get at moments such as these.

I cry when I see good moments, especially after hardships. Usually I cry on scenes in movies and in the cinema.

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

I cry when I see good moments, especially after hardships. Usually I cry on scenes in movies and in the cinema.

Yes, me too - it is like a kind of relief.

My friend and his wife have been having IVF for many years they didn't think they would ever have children - often I would feel sad for them. Hearing that news was like and then and then again.

[IrisBloom]

Reading your thread yesterday got me thinking: I don't think I've cried for a long time. (I did cry some when my dad passed in Dec.) I thought my meds were making me unable to cry. But I watched a movie yesterday and kind of teared up a few times. I can still cry. Nice to know. lol

Thank you for bringing this topic up.

[Open Eyes]

Tears of joy is a good thing.

I cry so deeply over kindness. If I see someone being kind to someone on TV I cry, if someone is kind to me, I bawl tears you'd think were meant for a funeral. I've always been like this but it's gotten worse with age.

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

I cry so deeply over kindness. If I see someone being kind to someone on TV I cry, if someone is kind to me, I bawl tears you'd think were meant for a funeral. I've always been like this but it's gotten worse with age.

Yes acts of kindness touch the human spirit.

I cried this morning hearing the news about the poor souls killed and injured at the concert in Manchester - but I teared up the most to hear about the generosity of local people who opened their homes to those in need that night.