Jealousy- Good or Bad

 Is Jealousy good?

Onida Television set advertisement became very famous with its tag line" Neighbors Envy.... Owners Pride".

Jealousy is a natural feeling in humans.
You aspire a certain thing or life....and you see your neighbor, friend,colleague,....or your Siblings get it......
Jealousy creeps into us.
As a child,I wanted a Barbie doll.My parents didn't buy for me.But when I saw my cousin playing with a beautiful Barbie gifted by an overseas friend..I was jealous.
During 12th boards,my bestie and myself were working hard together..But she got better marks to secure a medical seat in Mumbai whereas I fell short of marks.Whenever we met,she would gush about her Medical school ,the festivals and course.....I felt jealous.
When I started my professional life, a colleague purchased a swanky car....or built a grand villa.....or went to that exotic overseas trip......Ah! I was burning inside with Jealousy.
Is Jealousy Bad?
Does being Jealous make me a bad person?

Jealousy during school days made me work harder to get good marks and a good medical college ( though outside Mumbai).
Jealousy during Professional life motivated me to upgrade my skills and update myself with newer technology....attending workshops,doing fellowship in advanced Anaesthesia care,.
Jealousy kindled the desire to work harder to achieve whatever I aspired in life.
But not all times,have we seen Jealousy evoke a person for better.
Jealousy has provoked a person to make wrong decisions and follow the wrong path.
Sibling rivalry has pushed people to hurt each other( their own blood)....
Jealousy between couples has broken relationships.
Jealousy has led person to corruption and cheating.
Jealousy has moved person towards depression....and some have committed suicide due to Peer Pressure....whether concerning marks in an exam,a college or career admission or Job pressures.
When we aspire a certain life during adulthood ....inspite of working very hard,...reality fails to match with our expectations......
And we see our Colleague,a Friend or a Sibling....enjoy that dream Life......
Jealousy leads to Rage to Disappointment inside us regarding our life and capabilities.
The Jealousy blinds us from our achievements and success we reached till today.We become oblivious to our journey....how far we could make it today compared to yesterday .
Dear Friends,
Be Jealous.
Be envious.
It's natural feeling.
But use that feeling as your strength.
Strength to motivate you for better person in you.....for better life tomorrow.
Please don't allow Jealousy to creep inside you so deep.....that you fail to appreciate yourself and doubt your value and efficiency.
You refuse to enjoy your journey by constantly looking and admiring someone else's journey..
Jealousy does hurt you.....Obviously.
But let that hurt be a momentary feeling which triggers a momentum to do better.
Never allow it to reside permanently.....
Jealousy leads to competition.
Let the competition be fair.
Jealousy leads to bitterness.....A Bittergourd too is bitter but good for health....
Poison too is bitter.....so is a Medicine pill....
But one kills while other heals.
Jealousy is a product of self love.
If you love yourself.....never allow Jealousy to hurt you.
William Shakespeare  wrote numerous famous plays based on Jealousy.
Our own Mahabharata war took place due to Jealousy......
Even then,I continue to advocate.....Jealousy as good only when it kindles the desire to work hard for better life and good person.
- Dr Tripti Milind Galgali
Hubli