Envious or jealous? Green is a positive colour.

Feeling envious or feeling jealous? What's the difference? Why does it matter? 

Imagine someone you know is on holiday. They start posting numerous social media pictures of their fabulous hotel and of the white sandy beach. Does this inspire you with ideas for a future holiday? Do you feel like saving up and planning something for yourself? This may have started as a feeling of envy that encouraged you toward positive motivation and action. 

Or do you mumble and groan about the number of times you see their 'I'm so happy on my holiday' face across your screen? Do you start to say things to yourself like, 'I'd not want to be there anyway' (even though, you admit, it looks exquisite). Or perhaps, 'Too many creepy crawlies and I noticed they'd been bitten by a mosquito already!' The thoughts started as envy, then quickly escalated into a negative, jealous response. It's like wanting to stop someone else's fun. To not share in another person's vivid experience of life. 

Other people can seem to have it all, can't they? Maybe they can. Or maybe they have put in considerable effort to save up, to forge a successful career, making sacrifices in order to take annual holidays. Holding onto envy will lead to jealous thoughts. It will keep you trapped if you are constantly comparing yourself with others. Preventing you from focusing on your positive characteristics and achievements. You are the only invitee at this 'pity party'. 

Worst of all, it erodes self-confidence. It will stop you from building greater self-esteem. 

Or do you feel good about other people's success even if they appear to have 'more' material things, bigger homes and more exotic holidays than you? Do you positively rejoice in other people's happiness? Feeling excited for others is going to lead to more positive feelings for you. That should be less painful than feeling bad about another person's happiness. 

Perhaps next time you get a little green eyed, remember, an occasional bit of envy is OK. Just make sure it leads to the grass being greener on your side of the fence. Focus on your own grass and leave others to theirs.   

See:
http://www.angiegiles.co.uk/
Twitter: angie_therapist
Facebook: Angie Giles Hypnotherapy

About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich, NR3 4AG. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or call Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping people achieve their potential at work, in life and finding greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

What do you do to lift your mood?

Today I was thinking, as the dark grey clouds started to move across the sky, what can you do when you want to feel better?  
I then asked my friends what do they do if they want to lift their mood. 


Below is a list of things my friends and I came up with. They all seem like great ideas to me and inspire positivity.


What else can you suggest for this list? Please let me and any future readers of this blog know too. Thank you!  
    

• Standing barefoot on lush green grass
• Doing meditation or Qi Gong
• Practising sports or exercising
•  Spending time chatting and catching up with a great friend
•  Sitting on the beach on a crisp, sunny winter’s morning, watching the sea
•  Sitting at a window seat with a mug of steaming hot tea, pillows, a blanket and watching the rain crash against the window pane
• Getting outside in the pouring rain, being soaked through makes me feel good.  It’s so refreshing!
• Having a big hug
• Helping someone in their hour of need 
•  Going swimming
•  Writing down all your worries on a notepad and come back to them later on
•  Looking up at a bright blue sky
•  Looking up at the stars on a clear night 
• Being with good company whom I share a sense of humour with, laughter is the best  medicine
•  Lazing in the sunshine
• Practice that dazzling smile 
•  A few quiet minutes reading a really good book, preferably in the sun!
• Watching the sun set
• Closing my eyes and visualising myself growing taller and stronger
•  Listening to your child singing random songs and mispronouncing things!
•  Having a good laugh whilst watching a comedy on TV
•  Getting lost in the excitement of a great film
•  Playing a computer game that totally absorbs my attention
• Enjoying the smells and colours of autumn approaching
• Making something: perhaps baking or a good crafting session
• Smelling rain after it lands on parched, summer earth

And…watching dark clouds make way for blue sky and sunshine just before sunset! (How apt!)