When we achieve success in life, there is certainly a feeling of pride and happiness. We also hope that our friends will celebrate our success.
But in reality, it’s not always what we expect. It’s not uncommon that the success we achieve can also be a source of envy for others, including our close friends.
Envy is a natural emotion that anyone can feel, but we need to pay attention to it to maintain our interpersonal relationships and our emotional well-being. Here are five signs that could indicate that your friends are jealous of our achievements.
1. Giving A Backhanded Compliment
When we get words or support from friends, we will feel happy. But if the words make you think, it’s possible that your friend gave a backhanded compliment, which is giving praise that actually holds sarcasm or condescension.
For example, “Wow, you’re so smart, I never thought you could do that.”
2. Only Interested When You’re Struggling
According to a psychologist, Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, friends who are jealous of our achievements may only be interested in the difficult parts of our lives because they feel more comfortable or happy seeing us struggle or experience difficulties. They feel better, because it gives them the feeling that they are not so far behind or unlucky in comparison to us.
3. Comparing Your Achievements To Others
A common sign of envy is friends who underestimate or even ignore your achievements. According to Kirmayer, comparing our success with others can be a way for them to assuage their feelings of envy by feeling that our achievements are not so special or meaningful.
For example, if you’ve just received an award, your friend might mention an award they received a year ago.
4. Very Competitive
According to experts reported by Bustle, they become highly competitive because they feel the need to prove themselves or feel better than us. They perceive our success as a threat to their own self-esteem or achievements, so they feel the need to always try to surpass us in every way.
5. Making Passive-Aggressive Comments
Quoting from wellandgood, Jackson and Dr. Morgan say that overly critical comments can be a clear sign that someone is jealous of you. Usually, envious friends are always looking for flaws or weaknesses in our achievements or happiness because it makes them feel better about themselves.
By understanding the 5 signs above, we can try to understand their perspective and find a solution that is good for both parties. However, if the relationship becomes toxic or detrimental, there is nothing wrong with setting boundaries or even cutting ties.
Remember, stay focused on your achievements and ignore the negative feelings of others.
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