“Jealousy is vengeful – not to its target, but to ourselves.” – Terri Guillemets
Combatting jealously is never easy. After all, it’s a natural human emotion felt by all of us at some point during the course of our lives.
As human beings, we’re jealous of all kinds of things: relationships, fame, physical appearance, material possessions – the list is truly endless.
My propensity towards having a low self-esteem, has often made me a jealous individual. To provide your life with relevance, you believe that having the “things” that others possess will somehow change the way you perceive yourself.
Maybe that works for some people, but it doesn’t work for me – not in the long run.
Over the years I’ve done an admirable job combatting jealousy with the realization that I already have what I need – a loving, supportive spouse, my health and a comfortable lifestyle.
But I’m human, and from time to time those feelings of want and envy find their way back into my reality. When it does, I turn to some tried and true intentions I discovered years ago. Reading them brings about a perspective I often ignore when my jealous nature is in overdrive.
I hope they help you on your journey as well.
- Shift your focus to the good things in life. During times of jealousy, it’s so easy to take for granted all the amazing things your life possesses – all the blessings that are here right now. Take a moment to remind yourself of them. Write them down if you have to.
- Remember, nobody has it all. It’s easy to think that what we see of other people is reality. But they’re nothing more than assumptions. Perfection does not exist in our earthly life and comparing one life over another is a losing proposition. Nobody has it all – nobody!
- Stay away from people who value the wrong things. If you find yourself around people who place far too much importance on the kind of car they drive, the brand names they wear or the house they live in, don’t be surprised if you fall into the trap of comparing your possessions to theirs. Remind yourself, there are far more important things in life and walk away from the conversation (maybe even the relationship).
- Be happy for other people. As hard as it might be, celebrate the good fortune of others. Stop viewing life as a competition and instead rejoice over the good fortunes of others. When you experience their joys, you’re that much closer to combatting jealousy once and for all.
As I said, we’re all human. That means feelings of jealousy can always pop up unexpectedly. But as Maya Angelou once said, “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
Start reminding yourself that everything you need, is already inside of you.
