On Envy and Being Grateful

“Jealousy is the suspicion of one’s own inferiority” - Emily Post

We all want to be famous, to win, and to be successful. Just in case there are people who don’t always want to be the best in his league, I believe, at least, he wants to live life feeling good about himself and to have every good thing the world has to offer. Who doesn’t want a good life?

The problem lies in the fact that no matter how we desire to be always on top, to acquire all good things, life tells us that this is not possible. We live in a world where scarcity is a reality and competition is prevalent. Unless we sweat it out and shed some tears, we cannot reach the peak of our chosen league.

As we traverse our way up the top, we see our neighbors more blessed than us. We see our brothers as more privileged than us. Our friends are happier than us. All things are going well to the people around us while we remain weak, poor, unhappy, and underprivileged. Then we think life is unfair. Until someone reminds us that we are no longer running our own race. We tend to focus more on the blessings of others than what we have on our hands.

Envy is too powerful an enemy. Once it has crept into our system, we can never win. We lose our battles even before we embark on them. Envy never fails to tell you that you never had enough, and you never will. Envy shouts “you’re a loser” and keeps on doing so until you accept it as a crystal-clear reality.

How do you overcome envy? Focus on your own plate than the plate of others. Stay on your own lane. Count your own blessings. Counting the blessings of those around you is tedious and frustrating. In the process, you might as well lose what you have.

Above all, be thankful. Gratitude is an attitude that keeps us focused on the One who gives the blessings than the blessings themselves. It releases an attitude that keeps every burden light. It allows a person to count his blessings and feel good about himself even though he has too much or too little. The attitude of gratitude is what separates the one who merely possesses things from the one who is victoriously living.

You can gain the whole world yet still feel lacking. Unless you replace envy with gratitude you will realize that there is more to life than just being at the top.

 Be Grateful

Whenever you complain, things around you seem to be dull and gloomy. Everything in your surrounding is either too complicated to comprehend or too hard to accept. Everything just do not fit in.

We tend to complain about almost everything: the congested traffic, the way the food is served by the waiter, the weather – whether hot or cold. We complain about our bosses, our officemates, when our fridge does not offer anything we want to eat. It does not matter whether we complain big time (in raised voices and closed fists) or whine just to express our disappointment or frustrations – whining makes us a complainer. Whining makes you look older than your age and keeps people away from you.

It is hard not to be a complainer. I know the feeling because I am guilty of being one on many occasions. When you are running late for the office and you find yourself stuck in traffic, it is hard not to whine about the situation. When everyone seems to get a fair share of favor in life except you, why wouldn’t you complain, right?

However, while it is hard to do, it is not impossible. Being a complainer is developed as a lifestyle, a habit. When you begin to replace every whining into a winning moment by being thankful, then you are a step closer to being better. Be thankful, even when you are stuck in traffic that you can still afford to ride a bus, or a taxi, for that instance. Be thankful that you have a paying job. Be thankful that others are blessed and tell yourself that yours is along the way.

As soon as you’ve developed the habit of being grateful, you will realize that the world is no longer dull and gloomy but is rather full of life and joy.

Hi, I am Marts! I am a writer, and aside from my stint here in read.cash, I also have my own blog - martsvalenzuela.com. I appreciate it if you pay me a visit! I plan on growing my readership as I learn to improve my craft and journey towards my passion to write and publish books that add value to people.

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