Envy:
What to Do Whenever Your Heart is Pierced by This “Deadly Sin”
by www.Sedona.com Widely known as one of the seven “deadly sins,” envy is an insatiable desire for something you don’t have (the other six deadly sins are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth (laziness), wrath and pride (vanity)). In America, the most common forms of envy range from financial (wanting more money, a bigger house) to prestige (wanting to be famous, powerful) to appearance (coveting a certain “perfect” body or facial feature). But envy can take on many forms, and may envelop you without you even realizing it. “Most of us feel envious -- at least to some extent -- all the time without even being aware of it,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. Think about it. When your best friend’s husband sent her flowers for no reason, you wished yours would do the same. When your charming and intelligent co-worker was promoted, you congratulated him but secretly thought the job should have been yours (and maybe you resented him for it, just a tad). And when your neighbor drove up in a brand-new sports car, did you secretly wish it was yours? What’s Wrong With Envy? Envy is clearly all around us. But what’s so bad about coveting what someone else has? On the surface, nothing. However, over time envy can eat away at you, monopolize your thoughts and make it very difficult for you to be happy with your own life. In fact, in medieval times, drawings displayed envy as a monster that gnawed at your heart. And an old proverb paints a similar picture by saying, “a tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” At the heart of envy is a longing for what others have. This can easily lead to feelings of greed and keeps you completely immersed in what you perceive to be wrong with your life. “First remember that there is nothing wrong with any emotion, including envy,” Dwoskin points out. “All emotions are simply energy in motion. However, when you feel envious you are focusing on what you do not have, and feeling jealous of what others do have. This keeps you in a constant state of lacking, while preventing you from focusing on what is most beneficial for you.” Overcoming Envy: How to Let it Go So You Can Have it All An interesting thing happens when you consciously decide to no longer be envious -- you become free and open to anything you desire. The secret is in releasing the negative feelings of envy that are controlling your thoughts and actions. Anytime you feel envious (even slightly so), ask yourself the series of questions of The Sedona Method, a scientifically proven tool to help you find lasting happiness, and you will feel the jealousy dissolve on the spot. Meanwhile, imagine how good it will feel to no longer feel inadequate or like something in your life is lacking. Instead, you will focus on what is good in your life and be grateful for these gifts. It is this transformation of thought – from lacking to gratitude – that will free your mind and make it able to accept that which you desire. And your actions, and life, will follow. “When you bring this feeling of envy into your conscious awareness and let it go, it frees you to have it all,” Dwoskin says.
Source
Women Today Magazine
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