{"id":48794,"date":"2021-09-14T03:28:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-14T07:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=48794"},"modified":"2022-02-28T08:27:55","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T12:27:55","slug":"how-to-overcome-envy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-overcome-envy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Overcome Envy: 4 Ways to Avoid the Envy Trap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you know how to overcome envy? Why is it important to do so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes a healthy interest in others takes a nasty turn, and it becomes envy. Learning how to overcome envy is vital because envy can cause harm to you and others. Author Rick Warren outlines four ways envy does damage\u2014and four ways to avoid the envy trap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn how to overcome envy\u2014and why you should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Envy Trap<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s normal to be interested<\/em> in what other people are doing, and the different skills, personalities, or gifts they have. God likes it when we celebrate and study the diversity he created. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if your interest turns into envy<\/em>\u2014that is, you begin to resent ways in which you weren\u2019t made like others, or compare your unique work to that of others\u2014you lose sight of the meaning and purpose of your life. It’s crucial to understand the harm envy does and to learn how to overcome envy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Envy Hurts You<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll want to notice and shut down your envy as soon as possible because it\u2019s destructive and distracting in four ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Envy is an insult to your unique creation. <\/strong>When you wish to be like others, not only do you ignore all the amazing factors that make you you<\/em>, but you also insult God\u2019s choices in creating you. He formed you exactly as he intended\u2014your idea that you should be different in some way suggests that you think he made a mistake. <\/li>
  2. Envy begs for your attention. <\/strong>If you\u2019re busy thinking about ways that you want to be different or watching the work of others, you can\u2019t concentrate fully on your work and doing what God intended you to do. <\/li>
  3. Envy wastes time and energy. <\/strong>When you compare yourself to others<\/a>, you end up overworking yourself in order to keep up with them or surpass them. Instead of being content with what God\u2019s given you, you waste your time and energy trying to be or have more<\/em>\u2014even though it won\u2019t matter in the context of eternity. <\/li>
  4. Envy paves the path to other sins. <\/strong>Envy naturally creates feelings of conflict, competition, resentment, and so on. These feelings easily manifest in other sins, such as lying or stealing.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How to Overcome Envy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you feel yourself becoming envious of others and distracted from your purposes, there are four mindset adjustments you can make to reduce your envy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1) Stop comparing: <\/strong>Our uniqueness makes humans incomparable to one another, and God would never judge you for not being something he didn\u2019t make you to be<\/em>. Follow his lead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n