Beautiful. For me, much of this came to pass with age, and with a healthy, optimistic passage into that stage of life some call "retirement" (I call it "graduation"). The trick, as you wrote, is to reach it much earlier in life -- and I wish I had.
Super resonant! nailed this, this was an invitation into my own envy arising as I read this, and up until now hadn't named the emotion and experience as such, I just felt and saw the comparison and corrosion internally from it. thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this, Steven. I thought I was alone in this. At first, I didn't know why it was happening to me. I didn't think I had this disease (this was how I framed envy). But the more I think about it, the more I realize it's been there, but it was hidden because I used to keep achieving in my past career.
But not today or lately, at least not in my new journey. I've been feeling inadequate by comparing myself with other people's success, and hence, I've become envious. Like you, I distanced myself from X as I kept stumbling upon people who were successful and great at what they were doing.
But, it turns me into a bitter person. And I hate this within me.
As you brilliantly put it, I knew it was unmet desires reflected back to me like a mirror. I knew the problem was me, not others.
Thanks for pointing this out. I think I'd spend more time pausing and reflecting, reviewing my desires, becoming self-aware of my qualities, and just feeling enough with whatever I currently have.
This has been on my mind a lot too as of late, Steve.
My own Substack post today is about how journaling is a radical act because it's the catalyst for a positive, meaningful connection to yourself. I've found journaling to be an antidote to the negativity bias we develop about ourselves, largely stemming from the experience of envy you've so thoughtfully described here.
Beautiful. For me, much of this came to pass with age, and with a healthy, optimistic passage into that stage of life some call "retirement" (I call it "graduation"). The trick, as you wrote, is to reach it much earlier in life -- and I wish I had.
Very beautiful and relatable 🌱
Super resonant! nailed this, this was an invitation into my own envy arising as I read this, and up until now hadn't named the emotion and experience as such, I just felt and saw the comparison and corrosion internally from it. thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this, Steven. I thought I was alone in this. At first, I didn't know why it was happening to me. I didn't think I had this disease (this was how I framed envy). But the more I think about it, the more I realize it's been there, but it was hidden because I used to keep achieving in my past career.
But not today or lately, at least not in my new journey. I've been feeling inadequate by comparing myself with other people's success, and hence, I've become envious. Like you, I distanced myself from X as I kept stumbling upon people who were successful and great at what they were doing.
But, it turns me into a bitter person. And I hate this within me.
As you brilliantly put it, I knew it was unmet desires reflected back to me like a mirror. I knew the problem was me, not others.
Thanks for pointing this out. I think I'd spend more time pausing and reflecting, reviewing my desires, becoming self-aware of my qualities, and just feeling enough with whatever I currently have.
Awesome Steve - really connects with so much of my experience. Thanks for sharing as always!
This has been on my mind a lot too as of late, Steve.
My own Substack post today is about how journaling is a radical act because it's the catalyst for a positive, meaningful connection to yourself. I've found journaling to be an antidote to the negativity bias we develop about ourselves, largely stemming from the experience of envy you've so thoughtfully described here.