We’ve all felt jealous of somebody at some point in our life. Whether it’s a friend, foe, or someone we barely know, feeling jealous is natural.

However, jealousy can become a huge problem if it starts consuming you. When we start feeling envious of others’ lifestyles, successes, or relationships, we overlook our own strengths and happiness. Not only does it take a toll on our own well-being, but it also affects our relationships.

So, how can you cope with feelings of jealousy in a healthy way? Here are a few ideas.

Check Up On Your Emotions

For you to be able to identify and address jealousy, it’s imperative that you’re attuned to your emotions. This means that you should make an effort to be cognizant of what you’re feeling, when you’re feeling that way, and why.

One way to do this is through mindfulness techniques, which help in managing your emotions. This enables you to recognize the stressors and implement strategies that can help you detach from the feelings of jealousy. You can also start journaling to keep track of your feelings and be able to reflect upon them later. The more aware you are about your feelings of envy, the better you’ll be able to work on them.

Use Jealousy to Motivate You

Envious of someone’s athletic performance? Jealous of a coworker who’s liked by all your colleagues? Wish you, too, could get a fully-funded scholarship in an Ivy League college like your classmate just did?

Channel your negative feelings into positive ones by using them to motivate yourself. Instead of sulking over someone else’s qualities and successes, use them to push yourself into achieving your goals. When you’re able to appreciate others, it’s easy to get inspired by them as well and use that inspiration for self-improvement.

Remind Yourself That Happiness Isn’t Limited

Many of us get jealous of another person’s success or happiness when we feel we’re not experiencing those things ourselves. This makes us envious of their accomplishments and content, and we feel as if we’ll never be able to achieve those feelings.

When you find yourself feeling this way, remind yourself that happiness and success aren’t limited to a handful of individuals. There’s plenty of joy in the world to go around and it isn’t just limited to how one individual experiences it.

For instance, the person you’re jealous of may supposedly have the perfect job and have numerous awards, but that doesn’t mean your life is any less successful! You may not be doing the things they’re doing, but there are several other areas you excel in. You both can be doing amazing things in very different fields of life, without envying the other for what they’ve managed.

Rekha Shrivastava at Blossom Hypnosis uses subconscious mind therapy and hypnosis for identifying feelings and emotions such as jealousy and resentment. She also offers Skype sessions to clients not residing in Rochester, NY.