Success is a double-edged sword. Once you achieve some of it, you can’t help but notice others achieving more than what you thought was your wildest imagination. This can generate envy, shame, and self-pity, among other feelings.

As a life coach for entrepreneurs, I aim to assist you in overcoming any limiting thoughts.

In this article, we will redefine the meaning of success so that you can break free from the strong clutch of envy. 

Why do we envy?

Before we talk about envy, we must understand that all of your feelings, including envy, are important. They are signals that something within you must shift in order to feel in harmony with your environment. 

And you may be labeling the feeling as jealously when in fact you may be experiencing with envy.

Envy or jealousy related, yet different

Often times, you may have heard someone say that they feel jealous at another success, but in reality it is envy. 

Jealously and envy are different emotions, like having an appetite to eat versus a biological desire to stop feeling hungry. To start with, let’s define envy from jealousy.

Envy is wanting someone you wished you had while jealously is fear of losing what you have now. It is an indicator that you feel inadequate in one or more areas of your life.

Here are seven reasons why you or someone else has may suffer from envy:

1. Inadequacy: Envy can arise when individuals feel inadequate or lacking in comparison to others. They may perceive someone else’s qualities, achievements, or possessions as superior to their own, leading to feelings of insecurity and envy.

2. Social Comparison: Humans have a tendency to compare themselves to others, often using them as benchmarks for their own success or happiness. When individuals perceive themselves as falling short in comparison, envy can emerge.

3. Competitive Mindset: Envy can also be fueled by a competitive mindset. Some individuals may have a strong desire to be better than others, and when they perceive others as surpassing them in certain aspects, envy arises as a response to that perceived threat to their self-worth or position.

4. Scarcity Mentality: People with a scarcity mentality may believe that there are limited resources, opportunities, or recognition available. They may feel envy towards others who seem to have more of these limited resources, fearing that there won’t be enough for themselves.

5. Unfulfilled Desires: Envy can arise when individuals desire something strongly but are unable to attain it. Seeing someone else possess what they desire intensifies their feelings of longing and can trigger envy.

6. Social Pressure: Society (which includes content on social media), often creates ideals and standards that individuals feel pressured to meet. When someone else appears to effortlessly meet or exceed these standards, it can evoke envy in those who struggle to reach them.

7. Low Self-Esteem: Individuals with low self-esteem may be more prone to experiencing envy. They may struggle with feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy, and seeing others succeed or be happier can trigger envy as a reflection of their own perceived shortcomings.

Stay focused on what matters most

Based on the reasons above, it is essential to stay focused on your own ambitions and pursuits. 

When you think about others, it is next to impossible to create new things that will improve our situation. 

Moreover, when you are envious, you are making assumptions on things that may not be true. For example, you may think the person you envy must have the right social connections, higher education or some other advantage you think you lack. The fact of the matter is most people struggled for years to achieve their level of success.

Many successful entrepreneurs such as Jeff Bezos, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, amongst others, struggled for years before obtaining success in their respective careers. 

Read their stories and learn that your life and theirs are not so different. Remember, with rare exception, most of us start from nothing.