It’s an art to celebrate people without layering on subtle criticisms. When someone shares their joy with you, it’s not an invitation for your critiques, no matter how small. If they show you their new house, don’t point out how tiny the kitchen is. If they’re excited about their new car, don’t mention that it’s an older model. If they just graduated, don’t remind them of how tough the job market is.Instead, embrace their happiness. Be present in their joy, and let it be pure without adding the weight of what could go wrong or what’s lacking. It’s about learning to marinate in the moment with them, without the need to sprinkle in your perspective on the downsides.Criticism often hides in the smallest comments, but it has the power to drain the joy from a moment. We need to learn to celebrate each other as we are, where we are, with full hearts. This doesn’t mean we ignore reality, but there’s a time and place for everything. Let joy breathe without restraint.