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Hey, Jealousy
by Michelle Montoro
Jealousy is not a feeling that I experience often. By my very nature, I am not a jealous person. I am genuinely happy for the successes of others. I don’t envy people who have more money than I do. I don’t feel left out when my friends choose to spend time with other friends. I am completely comfortable with my husband having close intimate friendships with other women. Jealousy is kind of a foreign feeling to me. So much so that I have difficulty understanding it when others are exhibiting behaviors that stem from this very powerful yet unpleasant emotion.
However, it does occassionally creep up on me. And when it does, it catches me completely off guard. My first reaction is to deny it. Mostly because I get thoroughly embarrassed that I am even feeling it in the first place. I don’t even want to admit it to myself let alone to anyone else. Despite the embarrassment, I think it is a feeling worth exploring. What causes us to feel jealous? And how should we respond to this emotion?
The situation that prompted this analysis actually happened a few years ago. At first I didn’t recognize what I was feeling when I found myself doing something that I very rarely do. I was critiquing, criticizing, and judging another woman.
Actually, it got to the point where I was downright bashing her. Really unkind and nasty things. Like…
