Growing up I heard, "Jealousy is the best form of flattery." Well after the past 16 years, I've come to the conclusion that jealousy is actually no where close to flattery. In fact, I can't think of any example of how jealousy was actually flattering to someone.
Jealousy causes strange things to happen. Best friends drift apart, relationships crumble, and neither party really comes out on top. We've all realized at some point or another that someone else's life isn't always what it seems. For instance, my life can really look glamorous with all the events, dresses, make-up, and high heels but my life is really a daily struggle to stay on top of it all. In college you have a choice. Sleep, good grades, or a social life. Now you get to choose two of these but then add on a Miss America Organization Title and your choices grow. Sleep (ha!), good grades, social activities, great talent, great swim suit body, great interview, or good modeling. Some of these aren't actually things you choose because you are either naturally talented or simply cut your losses and move on with things. But you find yourself jealous of the people who look like they're doing it all and they've got it all together. Sometimes those people really are able to stay on top of their lives and excel in every area and those are the people who have realized that jealousy isn't flattery.
I have noticed a trend with my life. If I'm jealous of someone, I'm more likely to think negatively and even put them in a negative spotlight in every area.
Recently, I've changed my MO from internal degrading to external praise. If you praise someone, you've got to think positively about them. It started out with realizing that I was in a negative mental cycle and I gave out three compliments a day. That started a revolutionary way of thinking. I truly no longer cared enough about the negative of people to even notice it, much less think about it. The green eyed monster began to die.
I still struggle with jealousy but it's a much more manageable battle now. I've actually started to use the "Thumper Rule" when it comes to what I think about people. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." I'd like to expand on that rule. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Tell yourself to mentally stop, find something good to say, and say it."
Actions speak louder than words. Actions can win battles.
Don't stop at simply thinking positive thoughts, actually say them out loud. A kind word can mend a broken heart, relationship, or day.
Live Today.
Jealousy causes strange things to happen. Best friends drift apart, relationships crumble, and neither party really comes out on top. We've all realized at some point or another that someone else's life isn't always what it seems. For instance, my life can really look glamorous with all the events, dresses, make-up, and high heels but my life is really a daily struggle to stay on top of it all. In college you have a choice. Sleep, good grades, or a social life. Now you get to choose two of these but then add on a Miss America Organization Title and your choices grow. Sleep (ha!), good grades, social activities, great talent, great swim suit body, great interview, or good modeling. Some of these aren't actually things you choose because you are either naturally talented or simply cut your losses and move on with things. But you find yourself jealous of the people who look like they're doing it all and they've got it all together. Sometimes those people really are able to stay on top of their lives and excel in every area and those are the people who have realized that jealousy isn't flattery.
I have noticed a trend with my life. If I'm jealous of someone, I'm more likely to think negatively and even put them in a negative spotlight in every area.
Recently, I've changed my MO from internal degrading to external praise. If you praise someone, you've got to think positively about them. It started out with realizing that I was in a negative mental cycle and I gave out three compliments a day. That started a revolutionary way of thinking. I truly no longer cared enough about the negative of people to even notice it, much less think about it. The green eyed monster began to die.
I still struggle with jealousy but it's a much more manageable battle now. I've actually started to use the "Thumper Rule" when it comes to what I think about people. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." I'd like to expand on that rule. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Tell yourself to mentally stop, find something good to say, and say it."
Actions speak louder than words. Actions can win battles.
Don't stop at simply thinking positive thoughts, actually say them out loud. A kind word can mend a broken heart, relationship, or day.
Live Today.
