Want to overcome jealousy? These tips can help
In this age of cut-throat competition and constant comparison, it's human to feel jealous of others. However, it becomes problematic when jealousy gets the better of you and begins to negatively affect your mental health, leading to frequent episodes of anger, frustration, and resentment. Here's how you can focus on making your grass green than checking if someone else's is greener.
Practice gratitude
When you are grateful for what you have, how much of it you have, and the challenges you have overcome to reach where you are in life presently, your mind automatically shifts its focus from others to yourself. This will help you count your blessings and work hard in achieving your dreams than wasting time envying someone else for doing the same.
Do not compare
"Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle, or your middle to someone else's end," is the perfect adage by Tim Hiller that explains this tip. When your goals, challenges, achievements, decisions, and progress are all different from someone else's, comparing yourself with them is a sheer waste of time. Instead, focus on honing your craft than running in a jealousy-induced rat race.
Understand that success is subjective
Typically, having a whopping bank balance and an opulent lifestyle is the ideal definition of success that most people follow. However, for some, it could just be to stay happy and healthy. It's important to realize that success means different to different people and to constantly be affected by what others are achieving does no good. Define your success and work toward it.
Practice some in-the-moment techniques
Jealousy, just like any other emotion, should not be suppressed or else it can turn into something more catastrophic to one's health. Whenever you feel jealous, practice some in-the-moment techniques that can help you re-orient your thoughts and bring your attention back to your goals. Daily affirmations, meditation, listing down your insecurities and jealousy triggers, and countering them with action thoughts can help.
Remember your value
If your friend has scored better marks in exams, your neighbor is going on an international trip, or your colleague has got a better appraisal than you, none of it decreases your value. Understand that these could be the outcomes of their weeks or months of hard work, struggles, and sacrifices, which don't speak about your caliber, skills, talents, abilities, growth, and success.
