Jealousy

The green eyed monster raises its ugly head again. Jealousy is an age old human emotion felt almost by everyone, at some point or the other in life.

Wikipedia defines Jealousy as- The thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust.

So what is the basis of jealousy? It’s basically a lack of confidence in one’s abilities and a poor self-image.

When a person feels inadequate or lacking in some department, he/she begins to compare himself with those who are good and successful at that particular activity. When he sees others doing a great job of something that he/she is not able to, this gives rise to resentment and jealousy.

Very often, people feel that others around them get things easily and their lives are much more comfortable than theirs. What they may not realize is that everyone has their share of good and bad in life. While they may only see what good is happening in the other person’s life, they may not even be aware of the problems that they face.

Social media, where everyone tries to portray a very rosy picture of their life, tends to perpetuate the emotion of jealousy among people.

People’s professional success, active social life, fantastic personal relationships, material possessions, may all ignite the fire of jealousy in their so called friend’s hearts.

One of the main types of jealousy is romantic jealousy. While a little possessiveness in a relationship may keep it vibrant, too much of it can lead to bitter arguments and strain in relationships.

The theme of jealousy runs throughout the famous play by ‘William Shakespeare’ called ‘Othello’.

In this play, the main protagonist Othello gets conned into believing that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with his soldier Cassio. This leads him to kill Desdemona, and eventually, himself.

Jealousy can be compared to a burning piece of coal that can burn the person holding it close.

So how does one tame this green eyed monster ?

To begin with, one must realize that everyone is different. All of us have our own strengths and weaknesses. Comparing ourselves all the time with others, can be an exhausting exercise. Instead, be appreciative of your strengths and accepting of your shortcomings. Try to overcome these and if you feel that you have overcome even a few of them pat yourself on the back.

Do realize, that people may not necessarily be the way they look .Everyone has their own problems.  The attitude of gratitude goes a long way in keeping us happy with our lives.

Trust is the basis of any relationship. Have trust in yourself as well as your partner. Keeping yourself or him/her on tenterhooks all the time can truly take away from the charm of the relationship.

If you feel you’re veering towards jealousy, bring yourself back to a calmer state of mind and remind yourself that you’ve been given all that you deserve…….and more. Be happy in your own blissful world. Ciao!!