So much gossip and general nastiness stems from envy. People see something in someone else that they wish they could possess, and they lash out in hostility rather than reflecting on what they might change within themselves in order to achieve it. From time to time I've felt envious when I come across people more boldly expressive than I am, who don't hesitate to freely share the essence of who they are with the world...and this would intensify if I saw that they were loved for who they are, rather than rejected.
But with God's help, I transformed envy into inspiration. Envy is a signal that we're missing something we deeply long for. From there, we need to find out how to obtain that for ourselves, or if that proves impossible, realize that what we desire isn't necessarily God's will for us. What we want isn't always what we need for spiritual development, which is the purpose of the Christian life. A modified "sour grapes" mentality can be helpful in that regard...but rather than lying to ourselves by claiming that we never truly wanted what we wanted, concede that what we want isn't what God wants for us, and learn to be content.
Rather than always wanting mooooooore, I'd like to be thankful for all I have.
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