Overcome Envy

“Envy is the religion of the mediocre. It comforts them, it soothes their worries, and finally, it rots their souls, allowing them to justify their meanness and their greed until they believe these to be virtues.” — Carlos Ruiz Zafón

According to Buddhist teachings, suffering lie in three Poisons: Ignorance, Hate, and Greed. Ignorance is the belief that things are permanent. While things change for everyone. By making comparisons, we are only deceiving ourselves, as there are people better and worse than us. Ignorance is being attached to people, objects, or emotions. Ignorance leads to hate. People think that the world revolves around them and when this belief breaks, everyone looks like a competitor to them. Envy and jealousy then become their defense mechanisms. Greed is a vicious cycle of wanting more to gain happiness.

According to Bertrand Russell, “Beggars do not envy millionaires, though of course, they will envy other beggars who are more successful.”

To get over envy:

Firstly, practice self awareness. This means know yourself and accept yourself for who you are and  not who you should or shouldn’t be.

Secondly, learn to be gentle and forgiving with yourself. Consequently,  you will not need any possessions or relationships to feel more significant.

Compare and compete with yourself from what you were before. Become your own standard. Learn to appreciate yourself for who you are, not for your possession or your achievements.

Be Your Own Best Friend by Changing Your Negative Self-Talk. This means, draw your attention away from yourself for a minute to the person you envy, and tell yourself that you are happy for them for what they are enjoying. Besides, think of your own blessings, and show gratitude. A Belief that the universe has plenty for everyone to enjoy and that everyone cannot have everything at the same time, makes one have faith in the goodness of life.

Ultimately, make peace with yourself.