It's been said that, "Success breeds success," and this is certainly
true. However, there's another side of success that is not talked about
as often but occurs just as much and that is....Success also breeds
resentment and jealousy.
As you rise in life and
elevate your game, it's important to remember that no matter how
well-intentioned, helpful or pleasant you are that there are some people
who won't want to see you shine. In fact they are hoping to see you
fall. So much so that they will try to dismiss you, diminish your
achievements, pretend they don't see you rising, assassinate your
character, discredit you, talk about you behind your back, use innuendos
and sarcasm to try to get at you or attempt to eat from your plate
without putting in the work to make the meal.
A jealous person
won't come out and tell you that they are jealous of you, nor will they
admit it to anyone else. Why? Their pride and ego won't allow it.
Instead their jealousy will show up in the form of resentment, subtle
put downs, constant criticism, open hostility, imitation, gossiping,
playing down your accomplishments, an insatiable need to try and one-up
you, not inviting you to certain events for fear that you will outshine
them, not wanting you to come around their other friends for fear that
their friends may actually see that you are a stand up kind of person
and want to become your friend too, waiting on the sidelines wishing for
your demise and last but not least...kicking you when you fall.
Jealousy
comes in many forms. Sometimes a person will be jealous of your success
or accomplishments, your persistence in pursuing your dreams, your
charisma, your happiness and peace of mind, your faith walk, your
strength, looks, resources, business savvy, your influence, your
marriage, your family relationships, network of people you know or your
ability to bounce back from adversity. And jealous people can exist
everywhere - at work, in church, within your family, with your friends
and even within your online social networks. See the thing is, when you
have a deeper sense of self-esteem, resilience and purpose, it can
intimidate others and cause them to resent you, often without even
knowing why. Be that as it may, you cannot allow other people's issues
with you to cause you to play your life small.
Jealousy is like a
parasite. Once you allow it into your space it literally sucks the life
right out of you. This is why it is key that the moment you encounter
jealousy you cut it off at the head. Don't give jealous people any room
in your life to impact you, any space in your head to discourage you or
any power to rob you of your peace, purpose or destiny. Simply hold your
head up high and continue to do you.
Whether you are dealing
with a person who is ignorant, insecure, malicious or miserable, the
best thing that you can do when a jealous person comes your way is to
put as much distance as possible between you and that person. You cannot
afford to allow jealous people to block your blessings and rain on your
parade. An overtly jealous person can be easily identified, as he will
single you out for competition in any and every endeavor you undertake.
What is more dangerous is the covert jealous person who smiles in your
face while shoving an ice pick in your back. This kind of person sits
back and waits for the opportune time to badmouth you on the low or set
up traps to trip you up along the way.
