By: John McConnel
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2444/the-daily-guardian/15 
Dated: May 17th, 2025

Jealousy is based on the fear of losing what we already have, it is a very strong emotion and it is based on one’s identity. If we base our sense of self on temporary things; position, role, wealth – then there is a constant sense of threat from others surpassing us and unseating us. Therefore, anyone who appears to us to be able to do that, we will be jealous and suspicious of.

Then there is envy. Envy is about wanting something that others have. Our culture actively encourages us to have envy of others – bombarding us with pictures of desirable objects or attractive activities that seek to make us spend to ‘keep up’ and have the same as others. It is an impossible situation where there is a kind of constant envy and jealousy. Then we look for other solutions to not feeling ‘the best’, by shopping, drinking, or taking drugs to dull the feeling of inadequacy. All this destroys mental wellbeing, health and relationships.

The fairy tale, Snow White, has all these elements. The queen who based all her sense of self-worth on her astonishing beauty, suddenly becomes aware that there is someone even more beautiful in the kingdom. She is overwhelmed with jealousy and seeks to destroy the new threat to her sense of self. When someone has power over others because they have something that others do not, there is built in fear and insecurity because of the deep awareness that it could all go at any moment, or be taken away.

This is an untenable state of affairs. If we are always concerned with the physical, in any form, not just our own appearance, then we will always be fixed on blaming others for our lack of inner wellbeing. To deal with jealousy we can begin with taking a good look at what is driving that emotion. We can examine closely what it is that is driving our jealousy and balance that with appreciation of our own qualities and talents, remember all the small successes and not the failures, turn down the loud and complaining voice of criticism and switch on the inner voice of compassion and self-encouragement – reinforce the goodness within.

When we understand that we are not physical beings, but pure consciousness, intrinsically full of peace and happiness, pure powerful energy, then we need nothing from anyone. We have lost power through the years and lifetimes; we have become trapped in karmic relationships and need to regain our spiritual power. This comes from the Divine. A connection with the Divine, the Supreme Being, moves us on to this higher level of awareness. In the company of the Divine, God, we can engage in the process of removing the layers and layers of accumulated fear and insecurity, because now is the time to sort it all out.

We will be able to eliminate jealousy because we will no longer feel inadequate or depend on anything physical or intellectual. We will have no need to prove anything to anyone, we will just engage in empowering ourselves and going beyond the distractions of this physical world that is trying to make us believe we are of the physical. We cannot really change until we get into the depth of something but it must be with an attitude of learning. There will always be an opportunity to learn for those who desire it and are prepared to learn the new and live it. When we change, the world changes.