Why People Get Jealous?

“Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.” — Unknown.

People become jealous when they see others having beautiful things, such as a large house or a happy family, since it makes them feel like they have been missing out. For example, if a person sees a buddy with a new car, they may feel envious because they wish they had one.

Jealousy is typically caused by comparing ourselves to others and feeling inferior. It's like seeing someone with many friends and getting lonely because you don't have as many. In short, jealousy is the negative emotion that arises when one feels inferior and desires what another person has.

Parents often unconsciously promote jealousy among siblings by creating comparisons, such as praising one child for outstanding grades or exemplary behaviour while overlooking others. This can build feelings of inferiority in the ignored children, sowing the seeds of hatred and jealousy from a young age. These unpleasant feelings can build up over time and manifest themselves through areas of life, including relationships and the workplace. Thus, jealousy frequently stems from the family dynamic, where comparisons and favouritism generate anger among siblings.

Jealousy is, in fact, a tiny red monster that can severely damage our lives and the lives of the people associated with us. Most of us do not know how dangerous it is to keep this emotion to ourselves. Let’s discuss how this vague feeling can cause problems without our knowledge.

Elevation of Stress: Jealousy is a typical feeling that first increase your level of stress and anxiety. Because of jealousy, people constantly compare themselves to others and worry that they have fewer opportunities and blessings than others. This hurts both our physical and mental health.

The Effects on Friendship: When we remain angry or frustrated, it can hurt our relationships with our family, friends and relatives. It might be hard for others to trust us and share their joys with us when we constantly show resentment after watching their success or achievement.

Constant Comparisons: When someone is jealous, they often compare themselves to others. If we compare ourselves to others and think they have it better, we might feel like we’re not good enough. This makes us feel bad about our self-worth and could make us sad for a long time.

No Room for Growth: Jealousy loves to keep us from improving or growing as kind people. Instead of focusing on ourselves, we become obsessed with what others have. This can keep us stagnant and make us feel like we’re not moving forward. And you know stagnant water becomes stinky where diseases and stress grow.

Bad Decisions: Jealousy might lead us to do evil things we should not do otherwise. We may spread rumours about someone, try to manipulate events, or even engage in abusive behavior. Such toxic reactions often result in angry decisions that can ruin our lives. This hurts our self-confidence and could make us sad for a long time.

It's essential to stop when you compare things like homes, kids, or jobs with others. Talk to a good friend about how you feel and try to focus on your blessings or do something positive. Jealousy acts like a fire that can burn your soul and physical and mental health.

Remember, everyone’s journey is unique, and there’s no need to compare your experience with others. Never look at the vehicles and luggage of others travelling on the same road. Each person’s destination and difficulties are different. The main thing is your mental health and vision, enabling you to travel happily.

As we release the grip of jealousy, we create space for the blossoming of gratitude and the celebration of our unique journey.” — Anonymous.

Initially published by the writer on Jan 03, 2024, on Medium, the link is given below on