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ISSUE 173

Who Makes Your Good News Bigger?

There is no delight in owning anything unshared.
Seneca

Hi dear friend!

I take pictures of sausage dogs and send them to my husband. Every time I see a cool sports car, I tell my brother. When I found my wedding dress, I texted five of my closest friends and sent them blurry, imperfect pictures so we can celebrate together.

I realized that there are people we send our life to – the milestones, the big life-changing moments, and, above all, the small things. Something funny or sweet you saw on the street. The compliment that made your day. The meal that was unexpectedly good. The Substack article you kept thinking about for days. The thing that happened at work that requires a four-minute voice note and absolutely no context.

We spend a lot of time talking about the people we turn to when life gets difficult. Who listens, who stays, who picks up the phone and checks in on you.

But I started wondering about the other list. Who do you reach for when something good happens? Or, let me rephrase it: Who has a way of making your good news feel even better?

Veronica Joce,
Senior Editor at Intelligent Change

Intelligent Vocabulary

There is a psychology to good news

There is a word for what happens when you tell someone about something good: capitalization. The idea is simple. A positive experience doesn’t have to end when it happens. Sharing it with someone else can extend that good feeling, and the way they respond can make all the difference. Enthusiastic, engaged responses have been linked with greater intimacy, satisfaction, and closeness in relationships.

Think about the difference between: “Oh, nice. Well done.” and “WAIT. You got it?! Tell me everything. What did they say? How are you feeling?” That second response is called active-constructive responding: showing genuine interest, asking questions, and matching someone’s excitement instead of simply acknowledging it.

And newer research adds another lovely detail: it may be the shared positive emotion itself – actually feeling happy with someone – that helps make these responses feel so supportive.

Ideas for Reflection

Your celebration contacts

There are people you call when everything falls apart. And there are people you call when everything, for once, falls beautifully into place. Ideally, some names appear on both lists.

They’re the people who don’t make you feel silly for being that excited. Who want the unnecessarily detailed version. Who remember something you mentioned weeks ago and ask how it went. Who celebrate the tiny win with the same sincerity as the big one. Who don’t immediately compare it to their own life, warn you what might go wrong, or bring you back down to earth.

They may not always understand why this particular thing matters so much to you, but they understand that it matters to you. And that is such a generous way to love someone.

Chances are, while reading this, a few names have already come to mind :) This is your cue to message or call them.

Getting Things Done

Become one of those people yourself

Yesterday I came across this beautiful phrase: The only way to have a friend is to be one. So this week, I have a simple exercise for you:

When someone tells you something good, make more of it.

Ask another question.
Let them repeat themselves.
Be visibly excited.
Celebrate something that might seem small to you but clearly isn’t small to them.
Text them about it later.
Remember the date.
Tell them why you’re proud of them.

And, crucially, don’t rush to humble the moment. Let them enjoy themselves. Enthusiasm is a form of generosity.

Let’s keep talking. Leave your question here

In The Spotlight

The people you love are still full of surprises

You know the people you could happily listen to for hours? There is probably still so much about them you’ve never thought to ask. Get Closergames give you the questions that everyday conversation doesn’t always get around to: the stories, opinions, memories, dreams, and small details that make you think, “How did I not know this about you?”

Bring it to dinner. Open it over a bottle of something. Take a few cards on a weekend away. Because there is always more life to share.

Bring Get Closer to the Table →

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2c:T1c9d,[SHOP](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections) [NEW ARRIVALS](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/new) [READ](https://www.intelligentchange.com/blogs/read) ISSUE 173 Who Makes Your Good News Bigger? There is no delight in owning anything unshared. Seneca Hi dear friend! I take pictures of sausage dogs and send them to my husband. Every time I see a cool sports car, I tell my brother. When I found my wedding dress, I texted five of my closest friends and sent them blurry, imperfect pictures so we can celebrate together. I realized that there are people we send our life to – the [milestones](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/journals/products/life-designer-journal), the [big life-changing moments](https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/best-year-journal-oat), and, above all, the [small things](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/journals/products/the-five-minute-journal). Something funny or sweet you saw on the street. The compliment that made your day. The meal that was unexpectedly good. The Substack article you kept thinking about for days. The thing that happened at work that requires a four-minute voice note and absolutely no context. We spend a lot of time talking about the people we turn to [when life gets difficult.](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/journals/products/the-stoic-journal) Who listens, who stays, who picks up the phone and checks in on you. But I started wondering about the other list. Who do you reach for when something good happens? Or, let me rephrase it: Who has a way of making your good news feel even better? Veronica Joce, Senior Editor at Intelligent Change Intelligent Vocabulary There is a psychology to good news There is a word for what happens when you tell someone about something good: capitalization. The idea is simple. A positive experience doesn’t have to end when it happens. Sharing it with someone else can extend that good feeling, and the way they respond can make all the difference. Enthusiastic, engaged responses [have been linked](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15301629/) with greater [intimacy](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/play/products/get-closer-intimacy-edition), satisfaction, and [closeness in relationships.](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/play/products/get-closer-trio)Think about the difference between: “Oh, nice. Well done.” and “WAIT. You got it?! Tell me everything. What did they say? How are you feeling?” That second response is called active-constructive responding: showing genuine interest, [asking questions](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/play/products/get-closer-duo), and matching someone’s excitement instead of simply acknowledging it.And [newer research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42490261/) adds another lovely detail: it may be the shared positive emotion itself – actually feeling happy with someone – that helps make these responses feel so supportive. Ideas for Reflection Your celebration contacts There are people you call when [everything falls apart.](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/journals/products/becoming-a-warrior-journal) And there are people you call when everything, for once, falls beautifully into place. Ideally, some names appear on both lists. They’re the people who don’t make you feel silly for being that excited. Who want the unnecessarily detailed version. Who remember something you mentioned weeks ago and ask how it went. Who celebrate the tiny win with the same sincerity as the big one. Who don’t immediately compare it to their own life, warn you what might go wrong, or bring you back down to earth. They may not always understand why this particular thing matters so much to you, but they understand that it matters to you. And that is such a generous way to [love someone.](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/journals/products/life-designer-journal-for-couples) Chances are, while reading this, a few names have already come to mind :) This is your cue to message or call them. Getting Things Done Become one of those people yourself Yesterday I came across this beautiful phrase: The only way to have a friend is to be one. So this week, I have a simple exercise for you: When someone tells you something good, make more of it. Ask [another question](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/play/products/get-closer-table-talk). Let them repeat themselves. Be visibly excited. Celebrate something that might seem small to you but clearly isn’t small to them. Text them about it later. Remember the date. Tell them why you’re proud of them. And, crucially, don’t rush to humble the moment. Let them enjoy themselves. Enthusiasm is a form of generosity. [Let’s keep talking. Leave your question here](https://intelligentchange.typeform.com/ask-veronica) In The Spotlight The people you love are still full of surprises https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/play/products/get-closer You know the people you could happily listen to for hours? There is probably still so much about them you’ve never thought to ask. [Get Closer](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/play/products/get-closer)games give you the questions that everyday conversation doesn’t always get around to: the stories, opinions, memories, dreams, and small details that make you think, “How did I not know this about you?”Bring it to dinner. Open it over a bottle of something. Take a few cards on a weekend away. Because there is always more life to share. [Bring Get Closer to the Table →](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/play) https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections Enjoyed this newsletter? Send it to a friend. Was Intelligent Weekly forwarded to you from a friend? If so, you can [sign up for more here.](https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=nFEe3R&g=VU8Fit) Live a full life. Leave a small footprint. Sustainable routines begin with sustainable practices. We use only natural, recycled, and biodegradable materials and are committed to donating a portion of our profits, products, and time to causes around the world. No longer want to receive these emails? [Unsubscribe](https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/unsubscribe?a=nFEe3R&c=01KZ99X65ARHRBGY8RV0KV96P2&k=1812e5855e552d6853aed33342fc29dd&se=intelligentchange%40mailspo.com&m=01M2JWKP5YN2S7FES3ASQXDNHH&r=01M3JS8ERH6QF5625J37ANHD14) or [Manage Preferences](https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/update?a=nFEe3R&c=01KZ99X65ARHRBGY8RV0KV96P2&k=1812e5855e552d6853aed33342fc29dd&se=intelligentchange%40mailspo.com&m=01M2JWKP5YN2S7FES3ASQXDNHH&r=01M3JS8ERH6QF5625J37ANHD14) Intelligent Change 8 The Green, STE 400 Dover De 19901, United States [Five Minute Journal App Store](https://apps.apple.com/in/developer/intelligent-change-llc/id1556875886) [Five Minute Journal App Google Play Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Intelligent+Change+LLC&pli=1) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com) [Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@intelligentchange?lang=en) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/intelligentchange/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/intelligentchange) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@intelligentchange) 20:["$","article",null,{"className":"min-w-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden","aria-label":"Issue #173: Who Makes Your Good News Bigger?","children":[["$","$L29",null,{"emailId":"0a2e3f80-e2c8-46cb-93e1-cf6b02ebd427"}],["$","$L2a",null,{"email":{"id":"0a2e3f80-e2c8-46cb-93e1-cf6b02ebd427","subject":"Issue #173: Who Makes Your Good News Bigger?","previewText":"[SHOP](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections)\n[NEW ARRIVALS](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/new)\n[READ](https://www.intelligentchange.com/blogs/read)\n\nISSUE 173\n\nWho Makes Your Good News Bigger?\n\nThere is no delight in owning anything unshared.\nSeneca\n\nHi dear friend!\n\nI take","sentAt":"2026-09-28T01:30:05.000Z","classification":"marketing","imageCount":13,"thumbnailUrl":"https://mailspo-ingest.imraan-243.workers.dev/img/renders/0a2e3f80-e2c8-46cb-93e1-cf6b02ebd427.jpg","emailType":"product_launch","typeConfidence":"guess","typeBasis":"matched the body copy","brand":{"slug":"intelligentchange-com","followSlug":"intelligentchange-com","name":"Intelligent Change","domain":"intelligentchange.com","country":null,"category":null,"categoryConfidence":null,"genZSignal":false,"logoUrl":"https://mailspo-ingest.imraan-243.workers.dev/img/logos/intelligentchange-com/9311817a7a7b68f68e851f16aaf936791a56771360614ef8ca50d175ae55a7a8.png","emailCount":22,"lockedCount":0},"bodyHtml":"$2b","textBody":"$2c","bodyFallback":null}}]]}] a:null f:[["$","title","0",{"children":"Issue #173: Who Makes Your Good News Bigger? by Intelligent Change | Mailspo"}],["$","meta","1",{"name":"description","content":"[SHOP](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections)\n[NEW ARRIVALS](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/new)\n[READ](https://www.intelligentchange.com"}],["$","meta","2",{"name":"robots","content":"index, follow"}],["$","link","3",{"rel":"canonical","href":"https://mailspo.com/emails/0a2e3f80-e2c8-46cb-93e1-cf6b02ebd427"}],["$","meta","4",{"property":"og:title","content":"Issue #173: Who Makes Your Good News Bigger? by Intelligent Change | Mailspo"}],["$","meta","5",{"property":"og:description","content":"[SHOP](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections)\n[NEW ARRIVALS](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/new)\n[READ](https://www.intelligentchange.com"}],["$","meta","6",{"property":"og:url","content":"https://mailspo.com/emails/0a2e3f80-e2c8-46cb-93e1-cf6b02ebd427"}],["$","meta","7",{"property":"og:site_name","content":"Mailspo"}],["$","meta","8",{"property":"og:image","content":"https://mailspo-ingest.imraan-243.workers.dev/img/renders/0a2e3f80-e2c8-46cb-93e1-cf6b02ebd427.jpg"}],["$","meta","9",{"property":"og:image:alt","content":"Intelligent Change email creative: Issue #173: Who Makes Your Good News Bigger?"}],["$","meta","10",{"property":"og:type","content":"article"}],["$","meta","11",{"property":"article:published_time","content":"2026-09-28T01:30:05.000Z"}],["$","meta","12",{"name":"twitter:card","content":"summary_large_image"}],["$","meta","13",{"name":"twitter:title","content":"Issue #173: Who Makes Your Good News Bigger? by Intelligent Change | Mailspo"}],["$","meta","14",{"name":"twitter:description","content":"[SHOP](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections)\n[NEW ARRIVALS](https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/new)\n[READ](https://www.intelligentchange.com"}],["$","meta","15",{"name":"twitter:image","content":"https://mailspo-ingest.imraan-243.workers.dev/img/renders/0a2e3f80-e2c8-46cb-93e1-cf6b02ebd427.jpg"}],["$","meta","16",{"name":"twitter:image:alt","content":"Intelligent Change email creative: Issue #173: Who Makes Your Good News Bigger?"}],["$","link","17",{"rel":"icon","href":"/favicon.ico?favicon.3lxqohtg4uvbd.ico","sizes":"48x48","type":"image/x-icon"}],["$","$L2d","18",{}]]

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