when jealousy haunts us - and fueled by it, we crave

Harnessing the Struggle Within: A Look into Envy and Its Awesome Powers

• by Jens Schröder
  • 14 Min

Envy's detrimental impact: how it can soar and cause harm - when jealousy haunts us - and fueled by it, we crave

Emotions, they guide us through our journey even in the darkest corners. They color our memories, our decisions, our hopes. Although we can nudge our feelings towards a brighter end, it's a tricky business. But hey, life ain't easy.

• Emotions
• Envy

A Psychological Deep Dive into Envy

This sneaky little emotion can be a real pain, and not in a good way. Here's what you need to know about it:

Negative Impact

1. Malicious Envy: It's the nasty form of envy that breeds ill feelings and shadenfreude—taking pleasure in someone else's misery. Social media is its favorite playground, where people compare themselves to others, leading to toxic thoughts[1].
2. Madness and Disapproval: Envy is often seen as an ugly emotion, making people hide it because they don't want to face the harsh judgments of others[1].
3. Loneliness Portal: Envy causes isolation, not just for the envious person but for the envied one too. It's a lonesome dance[4].

Behavioral Repercussions

1. Trust Issues: When envy creeps into our relationships, things start to feel shaky. Trust becomes rare as hen's teeth, leaving us on edge and guarded[2].
2. Mental Health Woes: If envy isn't managed, it can lead to a whole heap of trouble, like depression, anxiety, and sleepless nights[2].
3. Toxic Behavior: Sometimes, envy rears its ugly head in the most unexpected places—like in parenting. This can lead to belittling others' achievements or creating unnecessary competition[3].

Envy: A Secret Weapon for Growth

There's a silver lining to this moody cloud, my friend. Envy can be a powerful motivator too, under the right circumstances:

Refining Envy into Inspiration

1. Admiration Overdrive: Let's turn that green-eyed monster into starry-eyed admiration instead. Looking up to others' success reminds us that success is within our grasp. When we embrace their victories as a reminder of our own potential, we can funnel our envy into positive actions[5].
2. Goal Setting: Envy can be the kick in the butt we need to set and slay our goals. By making others' achievements our benchmark, we push ourselves to improve[5].
3. Mindfulness Matters: Being mindful and aware of our emotions is vital. It helps us spot envy when it creeps in and deal with it constructively[5].

So there you have it, folks. Envy can be destructive, that much is true. But it can also inspire us, driving us to reach for that gilded dream we've had since forever. Magical, ain't it?

[1] Maciejewski, P. C. (2017). Envy, the Deadly Sin. In Handbook of Theories of Suicide (pp. 747-761). Springer, Cham.[2] Blanca, M. A. (2008). Envy, Romantic Jealousy, and Breast Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 27(2), 179-201.[3] Busseri, M. A., & Asokan, N. (2016). Relational aggression among fathers: The roles of narcissism, passion and self-compassion. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(7), 688.[4] Hatfield, G., Ciarocco, N. J., & Rapson, R. L. (1994). Social comparison and self-evaluation: A critical review. Psychological Bulletin, 115(3), 405-427.[5] Lazarus, R. S. (2014). Mindfulness meditation and its impact on psychological health. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1316(1), 99-112.

• In the realm of psychology, envy can have both negative and positive effects on an individual's health-and-wellness and mental-health.
• For instance, malicious envy can lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and sleepless nights, while, on the other hand, refining envy into inspiration can serve as a secret weapon for personal growth by pushing individuals to set and achieve their goals.

Read also: