An Article by J. J. (772 words, 4 min. read)
We Are All Victims
As I walked along the meticulously outlined pavement of the city where stars and fashionistas mingle, I caught my mind thinking for a brief moment, a few seconds, why her not I? Why him and not I?
Excuse me? Was it really me thinking that? After having been raised upon principles that frown upon jealousy and encourages the exact opposite act of selflessness and promotes praise to the more fortunate.
What was going on? It must be a biological innate trait then. it is buried within our genes and it shows up when given a chance.
What Is Important?
So what if the thought springs up? What if one does not act on it or what if one lives by it? One can argue that jealousy’s existence can sometimes build a drive towards which one can persevere and work to attain Higher goals.
But just like the innate gene for hunger, which exists in all of us, if left uncontrolled it leads to disaster. Uncontrolled hunger may lead to obesity and medical issues. Uncontrolled addiction, and yes we are all addicted to something, can lead to destruction of self, financial instability, psychological complications, and sometimes death. The point is, the genes and traits are there, acting upon them and controlling them is the key.
How Do We Control Jealousy?
It all starts with the basics. When one observes the success of someone else, the first thought should be pride, but that stems from the basic virtue of love. Not the love between lovers, but the love of humanity. After all, the success of a person is a reflection that success is possible, and that, in of itself, is hope for the observer to achieve their own success. Simply put, a successful person proves that success is possible.
After the initial jealous moment, the second thought should not be, why not me? It should be pure admiration of the success at hand and perhaps an exploration of the path that lead to it.
A dear person once told me that financial wealth is great, but what is greater is the road that one takes to get there. It is that road that lead us to the target that one should pursue, explore, and perhaps have the courage to lead or even modify to achieve a desired goal or a higher goal.
Necessary Building Blocks
Being content, and having self-satisfaction are the two basic building block foundations that one builds upon to elevate themselves to enjoy the success of others and to pursue the higher goals of achieving their own successes. And yes, being content Is mandatory. It is content that supersedes self-satisfaction, and fuels it to grow and flourish and complete the foundation upon which one builds upon.
Sensitive Individuals and Jealousy
Artists are among the most sensitive people. But sensitivity is a double edged sword. While heightened sensitivity may lead to big accomplishments as one gets in touch with their inner self and soul, it may also be destructive if the basics elements within the self are lacking, or worse, if they are totally damaged. This is why, jealousy flourishes in the art world.
What Different Forms of Jealousy?
It is true that jealousy between two spouses, or two lovers is slightly different than jealousy that one feels after observing the success of others. While this kind of jealousy builds upon the lack of self-confidence and touches upon the ego, the other kind of jealousy arises from the lack of inner content and self-satisfaction. In the world of the inner mind, self-confidence, the ego, contentment and self-satisfaction are closely related entities.
What Does That Imply?
The implication here is that jealous people lack the basic foundation of being content and being self-satisfied. As such, jealousy can run unchecked and without any control. Jealousy then becomes a disease and eats up its bearer, much like an addiction destroys the self.
The next time when one encounters a jealous person who may intentionally or unintentionally cause harm, one should not be affected. Just think that this jealous person is suffering from an incurable disease. Incurable because it lacks the two basic foundations which can never be built at later stages in life. You either have or build them early on in your toddler years or you will lose that capability forever. It is like building a high rise building without a foundation. The building is bound to fall, sooner or later, and when it does it is best that you are the furthest away from the site of the disaster.
