Envy and Jealousy

[The Sum of Awe]

Are jealousy and envy constructive emotions, or are they generally destructive emotions? Can you explain your views and give some examples from your own observations?

 

[dgirl1986]

I think they can be both. Random or small pangs of jealousy or envy on in an irregular basis can motivate you, cause you to look at yourself etc. It is obviously destructive if its constant and you allow it to control you.

 

[Skwim]

I'll second what dgirl1986 said.

 

[Charity]

Are jealousy and envy constructive emotions, or are they generally destructive emotions? Can you explain your views and give some examples from your own observations?

Jealousy has been destructive to me in past experiences and I hope to never let myself feel that emotion again....I've never really been envious about others or their possessions.
A Past relationship gave me reason to learn "jealous emotions" these started with good reasons, but caused me to be emotionally and physically ill when I could no longer control it. That is in the past and I have learned from previous experience and have overcome and learned to control those emotions....

 

[Kerr]

Are jealousy and envy constructive emotions, or are they generally destructive emotions? Can you explain your views and give some examples from your own observations?

In my experience they are destructive. I had those issues with my ex and it really hurt our relationship.

 

[Koldo]

I think they can be both. Random or small pangs of jealousy or envy on in an irregular basis can motivate you, cause you to look at yourself etc. It is obviously destructive if its constant and you allow it to control you.

I third this.

 

[Gharib]

From my beliefs/experiences/observations they are both constructive and destructive.

Some examples:

If you envy the top student in your class in a way that you want to be better than him/her then you begin studying harder and thus your envy leads to a positive outcome for you.

If you envy someone who has more wealth than you and a better job than you and you begin to wish bad things for the person and hate him/her then this is a destructive example/case.

Hope it makes sense.

 

[Nerthus]

In my experience, I would say that they are generally destructive emotions. Destructive on different levels.

 

[methylatedghosts]

Envy and jealousy are different.

Jealousy is wanting what the other person has. Like a child who wants his brother's toy truck. I'd consider it destructive because it doesn't necessarily matter if by gaining said truck, his brother loses it.

Envy I consider to be constructive. This is the child striving to reach the top drawer because her older brother can.

 

[methylatedghosts]

From Conversations with God, by Neale Donald Walsch:

“Envy is a natural emotion urging you to strive to be more. It is the two-year-old child yearning and urging herself to reach that doorknob which her brother can reach. There is nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with envy. It is a motivator. It is pure desire. It gives birth to greatness.

Jealousy, on the other hand, is a fear-driven emotion making one willing for the other to have less. It is an emotion often based in bitterness. It proceeds from anger and leads to anger. And it kills. Jealousy can kill. Anyone who’s been in a jealous triangle knows that.

Jealousy kills, envy gives birth.”