How to Turn Jealousy Into a Positive
Monday April 23, 2012

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“To be jealous of money is to be uninspired.” –from  novel  the The Darlings by Cristina Alger

Maybe it is the trip you hear about that your neighbors are taking and you dream of being able to travel as they do, or maybe you love the freedom your  sister-in-law has that allows her to live the life of her dreams, or better yet, maybe you become frustrated when you see others around you seeming to enjoy life to its fullest and you wish you could do the same, but feel it just isn’t possible.

What I challenge you to do today is whenever you find yourself lusting after or becoming defensive about the life someone else has, turn it into a positive and let these feelings guide you to realize what you truly want from your life. Maybe it isn’t the designer clothes the celebrities wear that cause you to shake your head, but instead the ability to design your own life, in other words having the means to have extra money to do with as you please. Maybe it isn’t the fact your colleague’s ingratiating that actually bugs you, but instead that she has the ear of your boss. And maybe it isn’t being single (or being married) that you dream of, but instead a life that allows you to live up to your full potential (or feel sincere love from someone who has placed you as a priority in their life) that you crave.

Life speaks to each of us continually; however we often dismiss it, are tone deaf or aren’t able to interpret what it really means because we haven’t taken the time to slow down enough to grasp who we are, what fulfills us and learn what we are capable of achieving.

Take jealousy or envy for example. Sometimes what initially on the surface appears as something horrible and a sign of insecurity can quickly be turned on its head to reveal what you fear you could never attain, but indeed wish to bring into your life. The fact of the matter is, when you are following what you are passionate about, have enough self-confidence to know you can handle anything that comes your way and have chosen to look fear in the face and work for what you want, there is nothing to be jealous of.

You may appreciate what others have done or have acquired, but once you have realized what your life needs to look like in order for you to be fulfilled and struck a balance with just enough challenges and successes to know you are continually heading in the right direction, then it won’t matter what others have because you will know deep in your core that you are taking steps to create the life that you have dreamed of. You will also know you have the gumption, the strength and the stick-to-it-iveness to make it happen and that in good time it will.


15 thoughts on “How to Turn Jealousy Into a Positive

  1. I do not need to comment something a blogger wrote very often. You are the biggest exception. I always wanto to write: That is so true. I love you for every word that is in the articles. And also for commas 🙂 Have a nice day, Shannon. After reading this blog, I will.

  2. Wonderful post.
    Thank you for enabling me to look at the feelings I sometimes have, differently and to find a way to deal with them.

  3. Great post! You come up with such off the beaten track, yet critically essential themes for your post that are excellent for all of us to remember and apply in our lives. Thanks so much. I loved the part about being tone deaf to what life is trying to get across to us…Great imagery:)

  4. In this facebook/social media era I have caught myself on occasion wishing that I could be in someone else’s shoes, or live the fabulous lives they seem to be living. This is a very destructive pattern of thinking I realized – and an easy trap to fall into. The pictures and version of life that is portrayed for others is an edited version; no one puts up the pictures of themselves when they are having a bad day, an argument with a friend or spouse. As a result, I try to remind myself that the excitement and good parts of life often come from having lived through the tougher times and faced challenges as they come. This makes me appreciate my experiences more. I like your suggestion to reflect on the negative thought processes and turn it into motivation as well.

  5. I love this post and once again a must fave! The last paragraph really puts our “jealousy” issues into perspective and how to move forward 🙂

  6. Beautifully true!

    I learnt from your post that I’m envious of people’s discipline. I will focus on developing my discipline in pursuit of my goals.

    🙂

  7. Someone once said to me, “Never envy what someone else has, unless you are willing to do what THEY did to get it.” Great thoughts, Sharon, and great way to flip the switch on envy and jealousy! Thanks!

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