I like to think that I am quite well balanced. Above average. Apart from possible risk of developing bulimia due to body issues, I am generally positive, happy and satisfied with life. I rarely am in pain or injured, I don't get headaches, cramps, broken bones. I have a near perfect sleep record, with no trouble drifting off, vivid dreams which studies show helps you deal with stress and other real life issues and possibly accounts for my low stress levels. I get lots of exercise, I have lots of close friends, my life is very drama free, I have supportive parents and family support system, I'm very much financially stable, and while not independent as far as moving out goes, it's something that isn't out of the question in the coming years. Right now I live being able to come and go as I please, get food and house provided nearly for free, right in the CBD.
I do appreciate my life. I have lots of upsides. I still occasionally play the old game 'which of my friends would I rather be...' but honestly, I've always almost chosen myself. Like, I can always find a negative like 'Yeah, but I'm prettier', 'Oh, but I'm smarter', 'It'd be good, but their parents would drive me insane', 'but their boyfriend is an asshole.' Now I get to include ones like 'yeah but she has an untreatable nerve disorder that causes constant significant pain,' 'but she's pregnant', 'yeah... but her sibling is disabled and her home life must be very tough', 'mmm, she's social and beautiful, but she's only at TAFE'.
I have always been blessed with the knowledge that whatever I don't like in my life, I still don't want to trade with anyone I know. I don't have a friend with a perfectly enviable life. The fact of the matter is, I make my life into what I want it to be, I have that molding power. Sure, I can't do everything, some things are unchangeable but for the most part, I'm happy with my life because I do the things I like, I make the choices that turn my life into something that I would personally envy.
That's what everyone does. There isn't such a thing as someone with a perfect life. Everyone puts value on different things, for me, I don't care how pretty someone is, unless they're intelligent, I couldn't stand to be them. But someone else wouldn't care less about that. The way envy works generally, is that you want something that someone else has. But I find the best way for me to head it off is to make myself answer this question whenever I feel jealous. For example, my friends grandmother died and she's about to recieve a large inheritance. But in 2 months time, she will be a teenage single mother, with a little boy, living at home, having to take a semester (at least) off uni. So, I ask myself, do I still want her life?
No, I don't.
The jealousy then passes.
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