Lesson: Envy

Envy is one of the seven deadly sins and has long been seen as a negative emotion. It arises when we want something that someone else has, such as their success, looks, or belongings. Today, envy seems even more common, especially because of social media. We often see photos of other people’s lives and start to compare ourselves to them. This can leave us feeling unhappy or less satisfied with our own lives. Still, envy is not always a bad thing. Sometimes, it pushes us to work harder and get better. For instance, if we envy someone’s abilities, we might try to learn and practice more so as to emulate them. In this lesson, we will look at both the positive and negative sides of envy. We will discuss how envy shapes our thoughts and actions, and how we can manage it in a healthy way.