One of the diversions one meets on the path of life that defines his roadmap and his destination, lies in his choice whether to overcome his negative feelings of jealousy or to surrender to it thus allowing it to overshadow his life. The reasons of jealousy in one’s life vary as some feel it when he finds out that he does not obtain what others have; whether this is on the financial level, abilities, personal talents or successes. Others try to mix it with the concept of love, but we have to realize the danger of jealousy on our life as it totally affects our progress, happiness and our prospective achievements. It leads one to go astray. I extremely agree with the Russian writer and philosopher, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, when he said that we should confess jealousy is an uncontrolled emotion, but let us say that it is a true catastrophe.
Why is it a real catastrophe?
First: jealousy fills man’s heart with negative vibes toward himself and others which affects his perspectives and distracts his mind. Mario Vargas Llosa, a Peruvian political writer said that jealousy distorts the mind and hinders logical thinking; hence leading to unbalanced behaviors in which man loses his discernment and sound judgment. So he would do actions that ruin his life before they affect others negatively. I recall the first action due to jealousy since dawn of history that was a murder; when Cain was jealous from his brother Abel; he let negative emotions and thoughts grow inside without controlling or trying to stop them, thus leading him to murder his brother .Hence, jealousy has turned into a horrible crime. Since that moment, the killer remains astray unable to find peace or comfort.
Second: jealousy will mislead you, there is an Argentinean proverb that says that when jealousy enters your heart, truth runs away from your mind.
How a person filled with feelings of jealousy would be able to evaluate himself and others in a proper and objective manner, while he is preoccupied with focusing his vision on someone and on one side only. ? !!
How will he see his pros and cons? And how will he judge his actions in a just way, while he is closing his eyes with negative feelings and thoughts?! It is more difficult that, however, the rejection of that person to recognize his or her own jealousy and thus he or she closes the doors of hope that would help them overcome their actions; on the contrary he or she provides justifications for what they believe in and feel like love and fear for others; this is far from the truth as the Cypriot proverb says, “Jealousy hinders love”.
Jealousy hinders man from doing his job and fulfilling his dreams as one focuses his attention on others forgetting his life mission….to be continued
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
