How do I stop being jealous of someone’s success?

Whirlwind of thoughts
3 min readMay 7, 2020

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The reason behind jealousy and steps to stop being envious

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

We live in a competitive world. Throughout our lives, we have or have been compared with someone. This comparison gives rise to envy. Jealousy is a part of our lives. Unless you are a leader in your field, no matter how successful you are, there will always be a reason why you are envious of someone’s success.

The reason behind jealousy

Jealousy stems from insecurity, lower self-esteem, and concern that we lack something. It cripples our confidence. We feel threatened and think that we are not special — sometimes even worthless.

What happens to you when you are jealous

When you hear about a friend or a colleague’s success, envy will wash over you. For hours together, you will invest your precious time and energy into obsessing about them. You will begin by hating them for their success and then gradually shift to hating yourself for not being enough.

Jealousy wreaks havoc on your mind and body. It upsets your body’s chemical balance and stresses your brain, which lowers your productivity. Furthermore, you are more likely to lose focus on progress and goals because you are always thinking about someone else.

When you experience jealousy, it brings up feelings of resentment, anger, restlessness, hatred towards yourself, inadequacy, and helplessness.

How to stop being jealous of someone’s success

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

You are unique

You are not perfect but unique. Each person has their own set of flaws, strengths, and weaknesses. You are irreplaceable. Your capabilities are your own. You have achieved so much in life, which automatically makes you successful. Comparing yourself with someone else or being jealous means you are insulting yourself.

How you define success is up to you!

Accept that it is okay to be jealous

Being envious only makes you human. But do not let it consume you. Take a minute when jealousy takes over. Ask yourself the reason behind your envy. Tell yourself it is okay to feel what you feel.

No two journeys are the same

Understand that two life journeys can never be the same. Your life, success, failures, and achievements are your own. No matter what you do, your life will not be like that of someone else’s. You should not let jealousy bother you even though someone else is more successful than you.

Also, the person you are jealous of, might be jealous of you as well — have you ever thought about that? Consider this food for thought. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Jealousy feeds off your insecurities and cripples your confidence. Do not let it overpower you. Always remind yourself that you are enough and unique. Achieve your goals because you want to and not because someone else has achieved them.

Pave your path. Onward you go!

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Whirlwind of thoughts
Whirlwind of thoughts

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