Would you prefer to be jealous or envious?

Question

You could be jealous of someone's house, car or mate, or you could be envious of someone's fame, status or brilliance.

Answer 1

it's the same thing. You can be envious that they have a better house, car, mate etc than you.

Answer 2

If I am jealous, it because of my insecurity about my relationship and because I have chosen to tie up my sense of self and self-worth with my relationship. Therefore, this will be quite painful in a deeply personal way.

Thus, I would much rather be envious. Someone has the car that I wish I had. Someone else has the house that I wish I had. Someone else has the job that I wish I had. The lack of these things might, if I choose, get tied up with my sense of self and I might feel badly about myself and my life. Many people suffer from envy this way. However, if I choose NOT to tie in my lack of these things with my sense of self, then I won't feel horribly about not having them. I will mainly feel just a bit frustrated about not having them, and perhaps this frustration will spur me to work harder towards attaining the things I wish to acquire in my life. I need not think less of myself just because of what I have or don't have. So, envy at least is relatively manageable as an emotion, whereas jealousy rises from a poor sense of self and therefore is much more difficult to manage until one chooses to change their thinking.

Answer 3

Preferably jealous Because being envious is more like trying to hurt someone.

Answer 4

We're jealous when we secretly believe we are deserving of the object of our jealousy, such as the job promotion, the great significant other, the joyful kids. Envy involves a perception of injustice and unfairness that speaks directly to something very primal in each of us. Envy always carries an unspoken judgment: It's so not fair that you have that great boyfriend (so I'm going to make it more fair by sleeping with him); I envy you that promotion (and I'll sabotage it). I hate that you drive a Lexus while I drive a hooptie (so pardon my small "ding" in your door when I park ridiculously close to you). Jealousy is passive, usually passes quickly and is normally benign. Envy is active, can simmer for years before unexpectedly boiling over, and can get well out of control.

Answer 5

I think they both kinda go hand in hand but I guess if I had to choose I would be jealous b/c envy just seems more evil or something. Plus if I'm jealous that would push me to get the same thing you have or something better so maybe jealousy could be used as motivation in a way!

Answer 6

Envious. Jealousy tends to hit closer to home. Envious is something you probably couldn't have in real (normal) life.

Answer 7

Neither is good, but being envious might just provoke you into action that would allow you to achive greater things. Jealousy is just another way to hate.

Answer 8

following your logic:

jealous means a feeling of wish-i-got-it for people around you

while envy means a feeling of wish-i-got-it for people out of your immediate reach


i'll take envy.. it's easier on the mind and it's less likely to cause trouble, a better motivation for success, etc

i usually don't bother having both feelings.. it's unproductive

Answer 9

jealous aint envious more involved or somtin i dunno
have a great day

Answer 10

one who is jealous is filed with spite and malice one who is envious still has admiration and respect for those they envy