Who do you envy? And how does it serve you?

Envy is a universal emotion. It can lead us to feel ashamed, disconnected from others and ourselves, and sometimes even to wish ill for others. However, for many of us, it’s not clear we would want to rid ourselves of envy because we fear we might lose our “drive.” Rasanath, Michael, and Vipin examine the root causes of envy and debate the question: When we lose our envy, do we lose our drive? They reveal three antidotes to envy, what role the ego plays, and what’s at stake if we don’t create a healthier relationship with our envy.

Podcast Hosts: Michael, Rasanath, and Vipin

Highlights

• [4:18] How ambition and drive can be a coping mechanism for envy

• [6:17] Debating the question: When we lose our envy, do we lose our drive?

• [6:53] The definition and components of envy 

• [7:53] How envy can be driven by entitlement and a feeling of scarcity

• [9:25] Vipin’s spontaneous experience of envying Rasanath 

• [9:40] Envy as a sign of appreciation

• [11:50] The LinkedIn Effect 

• [14:10] Envy as a signal of what our our self-worth is based on

• [15:40] Three antidotes to envy 

• [21:50] Why startup founders often experience envy 

• [23:30] What's at stake if we don't have a healthier relationship with our envy 

• [24:55] How the ego is reinforced through envy 

• [26:30] Two simple tips for dealing with envy when it arises

Quotes

• “Drive can be a coping strategy for envy…to preserve my sense of self.” -Vipin

• “Envy is built on scarcity. That person has, and I don't.” -Rasanath 

• “At the kernel of every experience of envy, there is appreciation for what the other person has.”  -Rasanath

• "To be successful is not purpose." -Vipin

• “When I live my purpose, even if the results don't manifest, I feel very fulfilled, because I recognize the outcome is beyond my control, but my purpose is to serve." -Rasanath

• “The self, the deepest part of who we are, the soul, is not envious. There is abundance.” -Vipin