Green with Envy

Someone once said, “The reason we are unhappy is because our neighbour seems to be happier than us.” The article (“Do You Shrivel when your friends succeed?”Wknd. 18May 2012) expertly uncovered the green-eyed monster within all of us. However, I am not prepared to take comfort in the fact that we’re wired to react this way. I am reminded of an incident when my kids were very small. Once they returned from school and, while showing their work, they proudly said so and so got an ‘A’ for his work. “How come?” I enquired. They simply said, “He is better.” I didn’t see any hint of envy in their words or on their faces. At that age, we were all like that. Surely then, this green-eyed monster entered our psyche much later when we lost our innocence and joined the rat-race. 

We now measure our success by comparing with others’ possessions. This is a never-ending chase. We may sometimes get momentary happiness by defeating our compatriot, but soon thereafter gloom will return as we train our eyes on other high achievers. Nature didn’t want us to live like this. In her garden, a lily is never envious of a rose. They both enjoy blooming to their own unique potentials. Likewise, each one of us is special and carries at least one unique talent, which no one else has. Our real success should be in uncovering this uniqueness within, which is incomparable and hence free from any envy whatsoever.