I’ve always thought of jealousy as a useless, toxic thing. It is damaging and negative. This I know and yet I am not immune to it. Although the Universe is abundant, there are times when I feel a tightening in my chest and doubt coursing through my veins. When this happens, I face my jealousy straight on, examine it, and reason with it.
Absolutely! Jealousy is a symptom of insecurity and I’ve been known to be neurotic. Do I want to celebrate my neurotic insecurity? No, of course not.
Why focus on what you don’t want, when focusing on what you do want is so much more pleasurable and beneficial?
Fortunately, you are the cure. You need not succumb to the disease.
Thoughts?
I’m not sure when noticing what others have crosses into jealousy. Seeing what others can achieve can be useful if it doesn’t over power you. You can always find those better and those worse than yourself. Also we don’t see the full picture and the ugly details behind the public face.
One last thought – a question really – (I assume it still goes on) Why do some girls test their boyfriends by trying to get a jealous reaction?
The answer to your question I suppose is insecurity.
it’s a self-defeating emotion.
Indeed.
There are people that are truly jealous and it effects them like a plague…My In laws for example…but then their is me jealous of the skinny girl in front of me in line at grocery store…no ice cream, chips or candy in here basket! B@tch!
You are funny. Yeah, the kind of jealousy that you describe in regards to your in laws is awful and makes people miserable and stingy. The kind of jealousy you feel for the skinny girl is the kind I can slap out of you.
In my younger days, jealousy ruled my life. Well, I let it rule. It was crippling. Thanks gosh I grew up. It’s not something of which I’m proud, but it is in the past. Good post!
I understand. I had a lesson in my youth about jealousy and realized that the feeling was based on my own insecurity and that I could turn it into something positive by thinking of it as a call to arms. I still on occasion get pangs of it, hence the post. At least now, I don’t dwell on it and realize that the Universe is abundant and no one, but no one is taking anything that is truly mine and what is meant for them is meant for them.
Well said. Jealousy stems from lack of self-confidence and fear. Cool quotes. How’s NYC treating you?
I’m back home already. It was a wonderful trip. I got to bond with other bloggers and I feel truly blessed to be working with Britax. Not for nothin’, but they are a great company with great products.
Jealousy can also be cause by envy. The grass is NOT always greener on the other side.
Answer to Lisleman- it may be a prehistoric thing, but women feel loved if their man fights for them.
We live in a highly competitive and comparative society, where each person measures his place and value against that of another. The trick to escaping jealousy is to see through this game, and to stop comparing and competing.
Well put.
I can be an extremely jealous person and it is a cancer that I bring upon myself.
I think one can envy with out being jealous, I think as the quotes say jealousy is more of an insecurity. 🙂
“jealousy is a symptom if neurotic insecurities” – interesting.
That last one is so true.
It can be difficult not to feel jealousy, especially in this digital-see-how-great-my-life-is age. I try to keep in mind that everything comes with a price, and that perhaps I am not willing to pay the price someone else pays. For example, as someone mentioned, I might be jealous of how fit someone else is, but I’m not willing to go without my chocolate or wake up earlier to work out. Then I realize, that maybe I’m not that jealous after all…
I’ve been in several discussions with those who say “A little jealousy is healthy”. To those people, I say “Your health isn’t what you think it should be.” They usually look at me with the same befuddlement that I give them when they say that they enjoy jealousy in small amounts.
I agree with you because when I feel a little jealous it does not feel healthy at all. Being inspired by others feel healthy, being jealous…not so much.
It makes sense to me that some people enjoy jealousy in small amounts. Some people also enjoy physical pain in small amounts. Those people visit domination dungeons. It’s not for me, but whatever makes people happy…
Jealousy isn’t a big problem for me unless the person who has what I’d like is a bitch about having it. 🙂
I really liked the quotes!