Tip of the Day - #15

Be Happy for Other People

Do you ever feel envy or jealousy? I think we all do from time to time. I have to fight this myself. Envy and jealousy come from a scarcity mindset, which tells us if they have success/luck/happiness, we won't (or will have less). We may feel we deserve success more than the other person.

When our mind is preoccupied with being jealous or envious, it is unavailable to make good things happen.

On the flip side, when we can feel genuine happiness for others, we are open to possibility for ourselves.

The more we link other people's good fortunes to frustrations about our lack of success, the more we hurt our chances for forward movement.

Be happy - really - for other people. In doing so we are able to learn, grow, and be ready for opportunity when it knocks.

Comments

[Tim Stanley]

Good tip Lisa. Being happy for other people is not only a generous act toward others, but it will give you a lift by being a caring person. In management, we need more caring and kindness. In the study of management at the university level, more time needs to be devoted to human relations. Keep up the good work.

[Hilary]

I wish more people thought like this. Far too often you see negativity and jealousy "taint" the things and people around it as well. Another good reason to head it off when you are aware of it.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Tim and Hilary - Thanks for your thoughts. I agree that the sooner we, as professionals or students, can learn to see and recognize our responses, the better. Envy and jealousy feel bad, so why feel these emotions? They do not serve a purpose and are destructive.

[D. Smith]

Hi everyone,

it's all well and good to say that but it's really hard to implement I've found anyhow. I was hoping for some practical ideas on how to be happy for someone else's success especially if they are close to you and you don't feel that successful yourself.

Thanks
D.