“Envy is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt.
Are you envious? Do you look at someone that has a nicer house, a better car, or suddenly has a windfall of money, and you find yourself almost illogically hating the person for what they have and what you don’t have?
I have never felt envious in my life! That, of course, would be a lie because everyone feels envy, but no one ever wants to admit that’s the cause of the feeling.
Envy is a complex emotion that is often difficult to navigate. It can arise when we compare ourselves to others and feel that they have something we lack. Envy can be a powerful motivator to work harder and achieve our goals, but it can also lead to feelings of bitterness and resentment. It’s important to recognize when envy is taking hold and to address it in a healthy way.
The first question should be, “Why am I envious?” and often, if you took a step back and looked at the full picture of the person’s life, you would generally be less envious.
Someone I know, who has a healthy level of wealth, has that outward appearance of having it all, and yet, they have to work too many hours, they don’t get to see their kids enough, he has problems in his marriage. When someone feels envious of him, there’s that moment that I stop and mentally go, “If you only knew half his problems!”
One of the key steps to achieving happiness is to practice gratitude for what you have, rather than comparing yourself to others. When you focus on your own accomplishments, strengths, and the positive aspects of your life, you foster a sense of contentment and self-appreciation. By redirecting your energy away from comparison and envy, you can cultivate a mindset of gratitude, which ultimately leads to greater happiness and personal satisfaction.
Rather than dwelling on what others have, we should focus on our own strengths and accomplishments. By doing so, we can cultivate a sense of gratitude and contentment that can help us overcome envy and find happiness in our lives.
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