Your friend’s happiness does not need your permission to be real.

When a friend is glad about something you would not have chosen, a small assessment starts running: is this real, will it last. Sometimes that is care, and often it is discomfort wearing the face of care, because their contentment sits oddly beside your own picture of a good life. Either way, their happiness is not waiting on a verdict from you to become genuine.

Take the good news at face value the first time you hear it. Ask what they like about it rather than what worries you. If a real concern remains a month later, it will land better once they know you were pleased.