Conquering the “Evil Eye” of Envy

With the proliferation of social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, it’s become easier than ever to compare our lives — our clothes, our looks, our homes, our relationships, our vacations, the list goes on and on — to those of others. And naturally, envy ensues.

Or is it natural? We all assume envy is as unavoidable as the post-Thanksgiving bloat. No matter how hard we try to fight it, our human frailty will always kick in. But that’s not the case. Envy can easily be conquered, and it’s nowhere near as difficult to avoid as seconds — or thirds — on turkey day.

The secret? Belief.

We feel envy for one reason. We don’t think we’ll ever get the thing we want — whatever it may be. But where there is a will, there is a way.

If you truly want something, you can get it. Even if you think your time has passed. It’s never too late to get in shape, find a new career or go on your dream vacation. And if convention is holding you back, screw it. If you fantasize about throwing your dream wedding, do it. Who cares if you’re already married. If you daydream about owning a shiny, new convertible, go for it. Who cares if people think you’re having a mid-life crisis.

The secret to life — and conquering envy — is doing what makes you happy.

So whenever those envious emotions start bubbling to the surface, remind yourself of why you feel them. You want that thing. So go for it.

Your envy will magically disappear.

Added Bonus: The more you go for the things you envy, the less envy you’ll feel. Why? Because you’ll no longer view things from the negative perspective of coveting. Instead, you’ll start to see them from the positive perspective of, “Wow. What a great idea to try.”

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On a side note, how awesome is the Queen’s costume in the new movie “Snow White and the Huntsman?” And her throne. Wow.