http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

For the letter “J” I chose the word jealousy.

I can honestly say jealousy is a feeling I have little time for in my life.  I believe it has a lot to do with the amount of  empathy I have.   I have gone as far as to hide my accomplishments to prevent loved ones from becoming jealous.  Both situations are unhealthy.

I have often wondered what the difference was between jealousy and envy; after all envy is one of the deadly sins.  It must be much worse than jealousy.

When you feel jealousy, you are actually feeling a lack of something in yourself.  It can be a fear of losing something or someone to another.  It is the clear fear that you have no value.  Jealousy in any type of a relationship always leads to resentment and negativity.

Envy on the other hand is a feeling one feels when one has not got some quality (thin; looks; smart) or product (car; jewelry) that another has without feeling a sense of loss or inferiority.

The two are very simialar but jealousy leads to insecurity and fear of loss, while envy if taken too far, often leads to hatred or spite.

If you put all of your energy into building your own personal and emotional security, then you will be the one other’s envy.  You can remember the pain and reach out to them.

“Envy is the art of counting the other fellows blessing’s instead of your own”.  ~Harold Coffin

“Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies”.  ~Elizabeth Bowen

The differences in these two feelings is a thin line.  It is good to know the difference between the two when you are creating characters with defects.

“Life is one big road with lots of signs.  So when you are riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind.  Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. WAKE UP AND LIVE!!” ~BOB MARLEY