Social media has plenty of useless things, but this lesson was shown to me on Twitter and it has changed how I use these two words. People use envious and jealous interchangeably, but their intent is different:
Envious - I want what you have but I’m happy that you have it.
Jealous - I want what you have and I am unhappy you have it.
Different emotions. Well wishing towards others success vs anger towards it.
I’m not envious very often. I love hearing business owners stories about how they got to where they are and the fruits from that struggle. No envy or jealousy there. I love cars but they are more like art to me. I enjoy seeing what someone else drives without craving it.
Now I do have some envy if people have a house in a locale I really like - say a remote cottage on a lake in New Hampshire. But I’m never unhappy that they have it and I don’t.
The more you are able to adopt an abundant mindset that:more stuff won’t make you happy and there is plenty to go around (someone else having it doesn’t mean you can’t) - you will deal with jealousy far less and even ween yourself off feelings of envy.
Cheer for others. It’s a good way to live. Plus, they may let you borrow their lake cottage for a week.