The Green Monster

Jealousy is something we all experience, and it’s one of my favorite emotions.

It’s always great to see a friend happy. I love it when I hear that someone I care about is genuinely content with their life, accomplishments, and relationships. It goes back to the idea that seeing someone you love happy makes you happy.

Sometimes, though, it makes me jealous too. It’s so easy to be envious of successful people, especially when things aren’t going great in your own life. Realizing that someone else has succeeded where you have failed leads to inevitable jealousy.

The way I look at it though, jealousy isn’t a bad thing.

In fact, I would argue jealousy is a great thing.

Sure, it can turn some people into miserable human beings, but I actually enjoy being jealous. I’m gonna type that again, just to make sure you read it correctly:

I ENJOY BEING JEALOUS.

Jealousy is a nasty emotion for some, yet for me, it leads to something better.

I enjoy being jealous because it makes me strive to be better, to do better.

I know what I want, and if I see someone else have it, I become jealous of them, wishing I had it too. And then something beautiful happens: I sit back, figure out just how badly I want it, and then become determined to find a way to get it for myself.

It doesn’t always come off that way, though. Sometimes people think jealousy causes us to be destructive. Sure, I might not always have a sunny disposition towards people gloating nonstop about their success. But the way I see it, if you’re talking about yourself constantly, I have every right to walk away from the conversation. And that’s less for the purpose of being rude and more because of the thirst for my own prosperity.

These people, the ones who have what we want, may ignore the jealous or speak badly about them. They may try to make it seem like others who are jealous of their happiness are horrible people. That’s where they’re wrong.

You can be happy for people who are more accomplished than you are. You can have love for friends and family that move up the corporate ladder while you stand with your two feet shakily planted on the first step. You’ll get there, too, if you want it bad enough. And guess what? It’s probably jealousy that’s going to get you there, extending his green hand and pulling you towards discovering your own ambition and drive.