What Jealousy Is.

Useful.

Or at least potentially useful.

[Lots of people] just see others’ success as a reflection of their own failure, and react against the successful person instead of turning that frustration inwards and improving themselves.

–Tucker Max

Are you a better musician than the lead in the opening band you saw last night? Did you make that observation as the headliner that played next? I doubt it. More likely you were drinking beer and playing Rock Band with your buddies. Instead, use that jealousy to pull yourself up on stage. Channel it into a singular observation:

You have no excuses.

This is assuming you’re somewhat self-aware, that you actually possess the talent you think you do. It’s specific. If you’re depressed because you suck, and just generally upset at someone else’s success…stop. Or become an alcoholic.

A good analogy can be found in Tim Ferriss’s adjustments to the No-Complaint Experiment:

I defined “complaining” for myself as follows: describing an event or person negatively without indicating next steps to fix the problem.

When I wasn’t writing, I was complaining. Instead of imitating the effort of successful writers, I was lamenting their success. Rather than credit their hard work, I pointed out their lack of talent. That’s not what a real artist does. That’s a critic. A real artist shuts up and creates.

I’m a better writer than many successful bloggers and authors. I know this to a green-eyed certainty. This used to make me angry. Actually, it still does. Except now, it’s at myself. Now, it’s usable.