Jealousy. Envious. Judgmental.

We’ve all felt those feelings at some point in our lives. It’s part of being human.

Yet, sometimes those feelings consume us where we find ourselves loathing another person, mentally rehearsing perfect one liners we could say to them, or placing judgment upon them about how they don’t deserve their success or how you’re much better than so and so.

When those feelings are present for us, they have a lot to teach us. So rather than judge them or judge yourself for having those feelings, get curious and introspective about what may really be going on with you. You’d be surprised about what may really be underneath those challenging feelings.

Recently I did a television segment on this very topic, sharing insights, questions, and tools of how to learn from and release the envy.

Here is the segment:

Often when we feel envy or jealousy, we believe that there is only so much of that success to go around and we may be missing out. Those feelings are fear or ego based, centered in scarcity versus sufficiency or abundance. And finally, many times if someone else’s success is triggering me and these negative feelings, it many times points to dreams or goals that I’d like to have, but I’m not pursuing or giving myself permission or time to entertain.

Coaching Assignment:

• Consider a person or example that you are envious of or felt jealous of in the past. Ask yourself, “What does their success trigger in me?”
• Get curious about what’s going on under these feelings – am I feeling that there is a lack of opportunity for me? Is there a goal that their success inspires in me to pursue? Is there an area or goal in life that I’m not allowing myself to go after?
• Study, interview, or read about someone who’s created the results you want. You could invite them to lunch or tea. You could read their autobiography or blog online. Transform your envy to insight.
• Ask yourself, “What goal would I like to pursue in a bigger way? What’s one simple action I can take this week to move it forward?”

There are many things in life we cannot control, but we are responsible for our emotions. As Eleanor Roosevelt taught:

“No one can offend you without your permission.”

As conscious creators of our own lives, when we own our emotions and get curious about them, we hold the key to our own freedom, peace of mind, and quality of our lives.

Feelings aren’t facts – they’re teachers.

Cheering you on,

Tiffany