When we think about jealousy we look at it as if it is a negative emotion or a bad habit we have.
The most common association that comes to mind is usually with revenge or anger. A typical example would be a romantic relationship were being jealous of your partner is a common perception. It can also be associated with the feeling of desperately wanting something someone else has.
It is proven with time that jealousy can lead to making bad decisions and regretting a certain type of unhealthy attitude. However, there is a way that the feeling of envy can actually be a good thing. The craving for something we don’t possess can help us grow and improve ourselves. It can be the fuel we need to accomplish our goals and ambitions. So, can we use jealousy as a boost for our self-growth?
Jealousy vs. Envy
Being jealous is part of our initial instincts. It is a natural emotion which sadly often leads to self-destructive behavior. Similar to that, envy can also be considered as a negative feeling which makes us blindly want things we can’t have. The thin line between jealousy and envy is that jealousy can also serve as motivation and provoke us to elevate ourselves. In fact, little amounts of jealousy can be beneficial to keeping a relationship together or even make us more considerable and careful with our actions towards others.
Furthermore, there is another difference between jealousy and envy. Envy is more about what you don’t have while jealousy is connected with an emotional attachment. When you see a woman passing by with the most expensive, fire looking shoes you’ve ever seen and you start making up scenarios in your head how she trips over something, that’s envy. Although, if you wish one day to be financially stable or successful like her and you are willing to work for it, that’s healthy jealousy.
Envy is based on the feeling of unfairness in a combination of fear and weakness. It often arouses in competitive environments where people are valued by their accomplishments or their possessions. Unfortunately, this describes a great number of our lives as social human beings. Well, we might not be able to change that but we are capable of appreciating others’ achievements, aren’t we? As a matter of fact, we can also use this as an inspiration to be better people.
How Is Jealousy Good For Us?
What is important here is where exactly do you put your focus on. It is okay to be jealous but only if this jealousy doesn’t convert into negative envious energy. When you feel like wanting something you don’t have or when you are wishing to have the accomplishments someone else has, take a step back and reconsider your own mindset. Ask yourself “Why am I having these feelings?”, “Why do I feel inferior to this person?” and take your time to reevaluate your goals.
You need to understand that jealousy is not concentrated in the other person’s attainment. Its core is all about you and your own perspective about the situation. Once you see that, you will be able to transform the negative feelings of jealousy into a good motivational strategy for self-improvement. You can learn from other people’s success rather than be envious about it.
Along with that, you can adjust your ambitions to be more applicable to the things you really want in your life and to focus your energy into getting where you want to be in life. Hence, you will effectively use jealousy for your own prosperity and your life will be fulfilled and purposeful.
