The Rearing of the Green-Eyed Monster

What I have learned about jealousy is this:

1)      Everyone experiences this feeling at point or another during their lifetime

2)      There is always an underlying reason the Green-Eyed Monster rears its ugly head

3)      It can be contained

When we become jealous of a certain individual, it’s not the individual that we are jealous of, it’s what they represent.  For example, you may be jealous of a girlfriend because she seems to know more about a mutual friend than you do or you may be jealous of a co-worker who just bought a new house or maybe you are jealous of a family member and the treatment you think they are getting from the rest of the family that you are not.

Often times, it’s our own inadequacies staring us in the face that we seem to be most jealous of, not the actual person.  For example, the jealousy you have your girlfriend is probably more about the lack of a close relationship with the mutual friend than anything else.  Try finding a way to bridge that gap yourself.  Invite that girlfriend out for dinner and a chick flick.  What about the co-worker who just bought a new house?  Most likely, you have been struggling with your finances and owning your own home still isn’t feasible for you quite yet.  Seeing someone else get what you want only exacerbates the situation.   Try finding a financial mentor that can help walk you through the steps you need to accomplish in order to own that certain dream house you’ve been longing for.   And your family…well, that’s a complicated matter all its own.  I bet someone else is feeling jealous of you for the same reasons.  Looks can be deceiving and what you think you see (perceive) is not always reality.  If it’s really bothering you, find a time when the two of you can meet up and have an honest discussion about it.  You might be surprised at what you find out! 

Regardless of the situation, all of us have experienced jealousy at one point or another in our lives, whether in a personal or professional environment.  But, it’s how we deal with those feelings along with finding out why we are feeling that way that matters.