by Cristoni A. Macaraeg
Envy occurs when someone desires what others have. Because of that, jealousy, comparison and competition arise. Someone envies with success, looks, or any about what others have and believe that they can’t have it. As American critic and poet Richard H. Stoddard said, “We love in others what we lack ourselves, and would be everything but what we are.” Being envious is a norm to people which is hard to elude. This is a dangerous emotion that eats ones’ soul. Whenever envy knocks, someone will experience insecurities, which leads to hatred, and the worst is violence towards the person. These are some of its wicked products. Thus, envy leaves everyone the connotation to an “ugly” character one could have.
On the other hand, is envy really that ruthless trait?
Envy can also be defined as a double-edged sword; it can have both negative and positive effects. Let’s name some on its positive side. Envy as self-evaluation, motivation and a life lesson.
Envy as SELF-EVALUATION
Awareness gives the power to change things in someone lives. Once aware of envy, the next thing is assessing where the roots came from. What do you envy? Why does it need to envy? Is it a need? Does someone need what others have? Is it healthy for oneself? Self-evaluation is keeping oneself healthy through always doing virtuous and forgetting the erroneous ways. Moreover, it is an opportunity to grow in positivity.
Envy as MOTIVATION
After evaluation, motivation moves next. When someone envies others’ lifestyle, accomplishments, and material things, this will serve as drive and aspiration to work hard or duplicate what others did towards achieving their triumphs. Diligence and perseverance will be top on the list. But someone must learn to assess his potentials and accept his limitations. Set realistic goals, make plans and implement such actions until reaching what he envies and be satisfied with.
Envy as a LIFE LESSON
Strong emotions of being envy sometimes will stem hatred and anguish to someone whom he envies. Fruits of destroying other people and own self will be harvested. With this negativity, everyone must learn its lesson. It is written in Proverbs 14:30, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Forgetting the bad side for our bones not to be rotten and make ourselves fruitful with goodness.
By finding the positive side of envy is like finding a light in the dark. It shines clearly when it is seen. Ask yourself now if you already have seen the light in the dark and what are you choosing?
Live with the positives and abandon the negatives. Make yourself better and not being bitter. It is true that people can’t put away envy in one’s mind but everyone can choose what is right.