Feeling Envy Can Be Good for You
It can even change your life.
“Envy is just unexpressed admiration. It is respect holding its breath.” Glennon Doyle.
The concept of being envious has always carried with it a negative and even shameful emotion. “Thou shalt not covet your neighbor” is one of the Ten Commandments found in the book of Exodus. “You’re just jealous!” This phrase is said by almost every child, teen, and adult around the world. The green-eyed monster is an embarrassing emotion that is felt by everyone on this earth. We all carry that one belief that taints our life experience — the notion that envy is shameful.
But what if envy held the secret to our life passion or purpose? What if envy was the key to unveiling your deepest desires?
I can’t claim all the credit for coming up with this concept myself. The big revelation happened while reading Glennon Doyle’s book “Untamed.” She described envy as “A red flashing arrow pointing [her] toward what to do next.” After reading her book I did what most people do when moved by a book (I hope) - I obsessively clicked on all her interviews. In one interview, she recalls looking at a book by a successful female writer and found herself unable to read it. She knew “a healthier, braver, better version of [herself]” could do the same. She was green with envy and it paralyzed her.
