Have you ever felt a tinge of jealousy as you witness someone else’s success?
I get it. It’s happened to me, too. It comes on like a hot itch you know you shouldn’t scratch.
When it happens to me, I push it down and say to myself “there is enough good stuff to go around.” And I truly believe that! But the itch to compare myself, to weigh my success against others´, doesn’t go away completely. I catch myself tallying my pros and their cons, wondering why them and not me, and I am ashamed of my smallness.
Is this resonating?
The moments in life when we are most prone to feel jealousy are also the times we are not tending our most basic needs. We performing artists have been trained to be hyper-focused, goal-oriented, and tenacious. Success can become our primary focus, and the only justification for our sacrifices. This mindset is not sustainable or productive, long-term. In my experience, feelings of jealousy come hand-in-hand with feelings of depletion and fruitless sacrifice.
So, the next time you feel that hot itch coming on, remember: jealousy isn’t greed for success; it’s malnourishment for fulfillment. If you find yourself feeling stingy and judgemental with those around you, check in with your basic needs, and make them a priority. You can’t be generous if you have nothing to give.
Let’s talk: Do you think it’s possible to have career fulfillment as an artist, and a balanced life, at the same time?
Photo: Freepik
