Envy and jealousy can be destructive and can prevent us from achieving happiness. However, we can overcome it by understanding what they are and what they push us to do.
Envy: a feeling of discontent or covetousness concerning another’s advantages, success, possessions, etc.Jealousy: resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another’s success or advantage itself
- Envy occurs internally when you want something that someone else has.- Jealousy, on the other hand, involves another person. Jealousy consists of a level of anger towards another person.
We only want more things if we are not happy with the things that we have. So the first step to overcoming envy or jealousy is to become satisfied with what we have.
Usually, when someone is envious, they focus on that feeling of envy and allow it to guide them. They become obsessed with the object of their envy and work to get that item no matter the cost.