Envy is a universal emotion.

English speakers have only one word for envy; Koreans (and other cultures) have two.

Negative emotions are trying to tell you something important.

Have you ever watched a relative, friend, or colleague move forward while you're still figuring things out?

It's unsettling. Even if you are happy for them, you might have felt a pang in your gut. Or maybe you heard a little voice whispering, "Uh oh, you're falling behind!"

Maybe a classmate landed the kind of job you wanted. Or a cousin moved into a sweet new place. Maybe a coworker just announced a career change you've been quietly considering.

I am very familiar with this yuckiness. I admit I encounter this sensation all the time. It happens when I'm talking to a dear friend, catching up with an acquaintance, and scrolling through LinkedIn or Instagram. Even though I work with conscientious high achievers on how to build authentic confidence, it doesn't mean my confidence can't still shatter. Even though I've studied envy for the last five years, it doesn't mean I don't feel it.

Envy is a universal emotion, but we lack words

We all feel envy. We see something that someone else has, and it doesn't feel........

© Psychology Today