Envy

ENVY

I transform envy into gratitude for the success of others and inspiration to succeed myself

WHAT IS ENVY?

A feeling of discontent or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck.

Synonyms: Jealousy, Resentment

Antonym: Generousity

LEARN ALL ABOUT ENVY

WHY ENVY
MATTERS?

MUSIC ON THE THEME OF ENVY

HOW TO RECOGNIZE
ENVY

TIPS TO DEAL WITH
ENVY

CURIOUS FACTS
ABOUT ENVY

ANIMALS ASSOCIATED WITH
ENVY

LEARN ALL ABOUT ENVY

WHY ENVY
MATTERS?

MUSIC ON THE THEME OF ENVY

HOW TO RECOGNIZE
ENVY

TIPS TO DEAL WITH
ENVY

CURIOUS FACTS
ABOUT ENVY

ANIMALS ASSOCIATED WITH
ENVY

“Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s
blessings instead of your own.”
Harold Coffin

HOW TO RECOGNIZE ENVY IN OTHERS
AND ONESELF

HOW TO RECOGNIZE 
IN OTHERS

Body Language

Crossed arms, stiff posture,
glances at others

Facial Expressions

Tightened lips, narrowed eyes,
forced or insincere smile

HOW TO RECOGNIZE 
IN ONESELF

In the Body

Tightness or discomfort in the chest,
restlessness

In the Mind

Comparative or resentful thoughts,
desire for what others have

HOW TO RECOGNIZE ENVY IN OTHERS
AND ONESELF

HOW TO RECOGNIZE 
IN OTHERS

HOW TO RECOGNIZE 
IN ONESELF

Body Language

Crossed arms, stiff posture,
glances at others

In the Body

Tightness or discomfort in the chest,
restlessness

Facial Expressions

Tightened lips, narrowed eyes,
forced or insincere smile

In the Mind

Comparative or resentful thoughts,
desire for what others have

How can I reframe envy as inspiration
rather than comparison?

TIPS AND TRICKS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS
EMOTION

List three things you’re grateful for in your life to shift focus away from envy and toward abundance.
Send goodwill to the person you feel envious of, cultivating compassion and reducing negative feelings.
Write about your strengths and achievements, reframing your focus away from comparisons to others.
Visualize green light at your heart center, focusing on opening it to joy for others’ success.
Create art that expresses your feelings of envy, transforming the emotion into creativity.
Stand barefoot on the ground, focusing on the present moment to center yourself and release envious thoughts.

CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT ENVY

Can snakes really outgrow themselves?

What does a snake have to do with the "green-eyed monster"?

Why can envy feel like a mix of pain and motivation?

What’s the difference between healthy and harmful envy?

ANIMALS ASSOCIATED WITH ENVY

Different animals are associated with different emotions in different cultures. Flip the coins to found out more:

What unmet desires are hidden beneath my envy,
and how might I begin to fulfill them for myself?

RETURN TO THE EMOTION EXPLORER GUIDE TO DISCOVER
A WHOLE WORLD OF EMOTIONS

Envy can be destructive or motivational. It highlights personal desires and can fuel self-improvement if channeled constructively. Recognizing envy helps manage social comparisons, cultivate gratitude, and focus on personal growth rather than resentment.

As snakes grow, their skin doesn’t stretch—so they must shed it in one dramatic move, a transformation that mirrors the restless desire often felt in envy.

Shakespeare’s phrase “green-eyed monster” (meaning envy) has long been linked with the snake, a creature often portrayed as lurking, watching, and waiting.

The brain treats envy like a threat to status or self-worth, lighting up specific areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which processes emotional pain and social comparison, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), which is involved in goal-setting and self-regulation. In cases of malicious envy, the ventral striatum may also activate when witnessing someone else’s misfortune, reflecting a sense of satisfaction.

Healthy envy, sometimes called benign envy, arises when you see someone succeed and feel inspired to improve yourself—it focuses your energy on learning, growth, and setting new goals. Harmful envy, or malicious envy, feels more like resentment. Instead of motivating you, it makes you want to bring the other person down. The key difference? Healthy envy looks upward and pushes you forward. Harmful envy looks sideways and pulls you into comparison and negativity.

Snake

Greek and Biblical mythology

The snake is a common symbol of envy and jealousy, particularly in biblical stories like the Garden of Eden, where the serpent's temptation reflects jealousy of human happiness. In Greek mythology, snakes are also linked to envy, representing treachery and desire.

Goat

Norse and Middle Eastern mythology

The goat, often linked to rivalry and desire, symbolizes envy in Norse and Middle Eastern traditions, where its competitive nature reflects feelings of jealousy and ambition.

Peacock

Hindu and European folklore

The peacock, admired for its beauty, is sometimes seen as a symbol of envy in Hindu and European folklore, where its extravagant display can inspire jealousy in others.

Hyena

African and Arabian mythology

The hyena, often depicted as cunning and resentful, represents envy in African and Arabian myths, where it is associated with deception and ill-intentioned rivalry.