The issue of envy is so important it made it into the Ten Commandments, worded as "thou shalt not covet..."
Unfortunately, it is probably the most abused of the Commandments and a major human vice, leading to a heck of a lot of misery for those who simply have worked hard to attain whatever they have and whoever they've become.
I get irritated when people either "luck" into good fortune or abuse values and slip into good fortune anyway. I never have a problem, however, with someone (whether I like them or not) who has worked hard and is earning whatever it is they have. I admire and respect hard work. It's as simple as that.
What pains me down to my gut is hearing, watching and often experiencing the viciousness that erupts from envy: 1) feeling entitled without making the effort; 2) begrudging the hard-earned success of others and doing something to hurt them.
Starting rumors about the person you envy just to besmirch their reputation, actively undermining their progress, nastily talking "smack" about them, being mean to them....all that energy should be put into making more of
yourself
. Your value in the world is not predicated on them going under. Your value to others is based on the light
you
shine, not the effort you make to dim the light of others.
It is a waste of your life and energy and potential to be mean about someone else's success and happiness. Use all of that energy to face your own fears or laziness and do it yourself.
