Jealousy’s Open Secret 🕵️
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” — Sun Tzu
"Jealousy is not a flaw. It’s a sign. A messy, glowing arrow pointing straight at your desires, or maybe your insecurities. Pay attention. It’s got something to teach you, but only if you’re willing to listen."
I once saw a coworker land a major promotion I’d been eyeing for months. I felt that sour pinch in my gut, a jolt of bitterness.
My mind raced with thoughts of “What did they have that I didn’t?”
My face got warm. My chest got tight.
The feeling didn’t just vanish when I distracted myself.
It kept knocking. Loudly.
It took a while, but I recognized that my jealousy was flipping on a spotlight. It wasn’t truly about the promotion. It was about my own doubts, my shaky self-confidence, my fear that I’d never measure up.
The jealousy pointed me toward an area of my life where I’d been treading water. By acknowledging the pang, I discovered the deeper truth beneath it.
My hunger to grow.
My worry about personal aim.
And my own shadow that loves to hide.
Pick a time, maybe this past week, where you felt jealousy creep in. Could be a passing thought, or a sudden surge. Write it down.
Then ask yourself: What’s underneath this? Desire? Fear? Both?
The exercise isn’t about shame or guilt. It’s about turning a neon sign of discomfort into raw data for your next step.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” — Sun Tzu
Jealousy can look like the enemy. But once you understand it, it becomes a teacher.
Ever had jealousy shove you forward?
Not a gentle nudge. A full-body push. A moment that yanked you out of complacency and dropped you straight into action.
Maybe it exposed a gap you didn’t know existed. Lit up something you’d been too afraid to admit you wanted. Forced you to level up.
Whatever it was, you felt it. And you moved.
Got a story? Spill it.
Someone out there needs to hear how you turned envy into fuel.
Jealousy isn’t the villain. It’s a highlighter, circling what you crave, underlining the places you’ve been playing small. Is it annoying? Sure. But is it useful? Absolutely.
Spot it. Call it what it is.
Let it drag the truth to the surface.
Confidence gaps. Unfinished business.
Dreams you keep shoving to the back of the shelf.
Ignore it, and it festers. Face it, and you take the wheel.
So lean in. Get messy. Figure out what it’s telling you. Then do something about it.
— Ryan Puusaari
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