Jealousy is a natural human emotion. Everyone has felt this emotion some time in their lives. When my family went through challenging times, this emotion became amplified in me.

Being Jealous and Envious

I Would See Others Living Their “Perfect” Lives

Everywhere around me at work and parties, I felt my co-workers and friends were living happy go lucky lives. I felt their families’ finances were spectacular and they went on lovely vacations together.

It seemed like things were so easy for them. But how did I really know? To tell you the truth, my family’s lives seemed picture perfect from the outside. No one really knew the reality. So how could I jump to assumptions about other people?

This can be a dangerous mindset to get trapped into because you start to look down on yourself. You start to compare yourself too much with everyone.

Whatever Progress You are Making Does Not Seem Enough

When my father had a stroke and suddenly everything changed, it was not easy. We had to take every step carefully. And at times, the simplest of things being accomplished was like a major step in the right direction.

But when I compared my life to everyone else’s, the progress was not enough. I pushed myself harder. What was the point? I kept trying to force myself to do more because I was comparing myself. It was all in my head.

I Started to Turn Inward

Everything changed when I started becoming more conscious of my thoughts and feelings. I turned inward and created my own definition of happiness and success. I didn’t need to use someone else’s metric. Only mine. And that’s when things started shifting for the best…

What is your biggest takeaway from this post? Please share with me in the comments.

It was important that I learn how to express my emotions in a healthy way this year. All my life I have had a habit to bottle my feelings and suddenly explode like a firecracker. First of all, it was scary for the person witnessing my outburst. Secondly, I withdrew further after the  outburst.

Healthy Expression of Emotions

Coping With Your Emotions in a Healthy Way

I was one of those people who felt expressing my emotions meant I was not a strong person. But I am a human being and feel a wide range of emotions. If I learned to cope with them, perhaps I wouldn’t have had years of bottled up resentments.

Everyone has a different way in coping with their emotions, but it must be done in a way that allows you to embrace and accept your state of mind and also let off steam.

Acknowledge and Accept Your State of Mind

Whatever you are feeling, don’t shove it away. Really feel the emotion deeply. The more you push it away, the more it will come back with force.

Because once you’ve admitted what you are feeling, you can let yourself hang in that state until you feel it completely and then move to swimming out of the emotion.

For example: This week, I felt a wave of confusion and sadness hit me. The old me would’ve just sunk myself into my work and driven myself to do more work and not pay any attention to my emotional health.

But I didn’t do that. I lied down and let the tears come out. I know why I was feeling this way and I had to deal with it. I had to feel it intensely. And once I did let it out, I felt a calming sensation take over me. I could accept I am human and move forward with my week. It’s a powerful way to feel strength and vulnerability at the same time.

What is your biggest takeaway from this post? Please share with me in the comments.