The Green-Eyed Monster

Something’s been bugging me lately and today seems like a good day to write it out. As I’m sure you’ve gathered, human emotions always spark my curiosity. I want to understand, to know why, or to know what people are thinking. So, today, I want to discuss envy. You know the green-eyed monster we all have living inside of us, which often rears its ugly head when we least expect it to. I can’t help but wonder, why do we spend our precious energy envying other people?

Envy is such a curious beast, isn’t it? It creeps into our hearts, fueled by comparisons and societal pressures. We witness the achievements, possessions, and seemingly perfect lives of others, and that tiny voice inside us whispers, “why not me?”

We’re constantly bombarded with carefully curated images on social media (guilty), where everyone appears to be living their best lives. We see friends jetting off to exotic destinations, flaunting their flawless relationships, and excelling in their careers. Suddenly, our own accomplishments feel inadequate, and you guessed it, envy takes hold.

But let’s pause a moment here and ask ourselves, why exactly do we envy others? Is it a reflection of our own insecurities or unfulfilled desires? Or perhaps it’s the fear of missing out (gosh darn that FOMO) or the nagging notion that we’re somehow falling behind? Or maybe it’s because envy arises from a deep-rooted longing for something we believe we lack (notice I didn’t say we actually lack) – a sense of purpose, success, or even love.

But we need to beware, envy can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can motivate us to strive for better, to set goals and work towards them. We see someone else’s success and think, “if they can do it, so can I.” Envy can act as a catalyst for personal growth and self-improvement.

However, there’s a darker side to envy too. It can consume us, breeding bitterness and resentment. We may find ourselves caught in an endless cycle of the comparison game, constantly measuring our worth against others (and that’s never a good plan). This toxic mindset robs us of joy and contentment, and overshadows our own achievements. We become blinded to our own greatness.

In truth, envy is just a distorted perception. We only see the highlight reels of others’ lives, not the struggles and setbacks they most certainly endure (because we all do). We compare our behind-the-scenes struggles to their polished façade, which leads to a very unfair assessment of our own worth (yikes).

So, the next question is, what can we do to overcome envy? I think it starts with cultivating gratitude and embracing our own unique journey. We need to recognize that everyone has their own set of challenges, and that appearances can absolutely be deceiving. We need to shift our focus to ourselves and concentrate on self-improvement rather than comparison – setting realistic goals for ourselves and celebrating the small victories along the way.

Remember, my friend, life isn’t a competition. Each person’s path is different, and true fulfillment comes from finding our own purpose and pursuing it with authenticity (read that again if you need to, haha). Embrace your passions, nurture your relationships, and prioritize yourself. When we focus on our own growth and well-being, envy loses all of its power over us.

While envy will always be a part of the human experience, we have the power to choose how we respond to it. So let’s challenge ourselves to redirect our energy towards growth, compassion, and empathy. Let’s embrace the uniqueness of our own journey and appreciate the beauty in others without diminishing your our own. After all, life’s way too short to be consumed by the green-eyed monster – screw that guy.