9 Ways To Let Go Of Jealousy
First of all, it’s important to remind yourself that you are a human being and that all human beings, as social creatures, experience jealousy at times. It’s completely natural. However, if you find that you are overwhelmed by jealous thoughts and feelings and that you even act out on them, it’s time to take a good look at what’s going on with you. Then you can try these 9 ways to let go of jealousy.
#1. Focus on and celebrate the things you like and love about yourself
Take time to acknowledge yourself for your past accomplishments as well as the daily things. It might little things like taking an elderly person’s shopping cart back to the store from the parking lot for them. But, just be sure to look for the goodness in you. Another way to put it is to catch yourself doing something right.
#3. Find ways to love yourself
Practice unconditional love towards yourself. Look in the mirror and choose to love every inch of you, unconditionally. The same goes for the internal stuff. Make lists of the things you like about yourself, such as your sense of humor, intelligence, thoughtfulness towards others, and so on.
#4. Positive Self-Affirmations
Write little love notes to yourself and stick them up everywhere you will see them on a daily basis, such as on your bathroom mirror. Keep doing this until you believe the things you are reading about you.
#5. Meditation
Daily meditation can do wonders for feeling centered and balanced and not just during the practice; it spills into your daily life. By meditating regularly, you will be able to quiet your mind, especially that ‘inner critic’ that, by the way, everyone has, and focus on the positive things. When you are focused on the positive, there’s no room for negativity, such as jealousy.
#6. Talk about it with trustworthy friends
If you feel like your jealous thoughts are just eating away at you and all attempts on your own are fruitless, it might help to talk it out. Make sure it’s with trustworthy people, like your best friend. Getting your thoughts out can help in a couple of different ways, one of which is that, by putting your thoughts into words, you can hear perhaps just how outlandish the jealous thoughts are. Another way this can help is simply that you get the thoughts out of your head. Trying to think your way out of something can become a jumbled mess in your head.
#7. Work on it with your sponsor
Be honest with your sponsor about your character defects, such as your jealousy. She can help you work through it by giving you suggestions on how to let go of jealousy and move on.
#8. Make a daily gratitude list
Get into the habit of making a list of the things for which you are grateful – every day. This will serve to remind you of all the great things you have going for you. And, by remaining in a state of gratitude, you will literally have no room for jealous or otherwise negative thoughts.
#9. Change your perspective
Another one of the ways to let go of jealousy could be as simple as changing your language from “jealous of” to “inspired by” and make the changes to be/do/have what it is you see in others that you desire for yourself.
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