How Envy Can Be Positive

A lot of people think there is a negative connotation to envy. One of the definitions of envy is ​​a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck. Words like “discontented” and “resentful” make it a negative trait. However, I’m here to tell you that envy is only negative if you let it remain a feeling. When you act upon envy it becomes a positive. For example, if I envy someone else’s big house it can lead to negative feelings. I could start to dislike the person who has the big house. I could begin to get depressed for not having it. There are a whole gamut of reasons that having that kind of envy is bad. However, if you act upon your envy in a positive way then it is a good trait. If it drives you to become a better person or chase your dreams then you are simply adding it to the reasons to keep going. For example, if you envy someone else’s job, you could start using that as fuel to go after the same job. Let it encourage you to get the education or training you need to do so. Let’s face it, there are many of us who envy something someone else has. If we just stew upon it then it’s a bad thing. But if we act upon it in a positive way it could be just what you need to get what you want.