How To Stop Being Jealous In Friendships And Relationships?

Jealousy is considered inseparable part of any kind of relationships. It usually brings evil in many people, yet jealousy is assumed to be sign of love.  People are jealous of their friends or their partners being friendly with other people. It often ends up hurting them more for no reason at all. But people think in love or friendship hurt is to be endured.

Let's get it straight, jealousy is not cute or acceptable. It is toxic which creates problems in a friendship and ends up hurting the person who is being jealous emotionally and mentally. Often people end up developing insecurities because of their jealous nature which makes them under-confident and frustrated. Jealousy harms the person who harbours it more than the one it is directed at. And it ends up making friendships and relationships awkward and uncomfortable. So how can we control jealousy?

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Jealousy In Friendships And Relationships

In a Reddit thread, a user wrote, "Today, I watched a woman friend tell another friend that she was pregnant. She had ample opportunity to tell me as well, but she didn't. I was in another area when I overheard them. I know that I cannot control my friendship with myself and that woman. However, I just want to stop feeling jealous. I am also jealous in other ways as well. I get jealous all the time of other people's relationships and etc. What are some ways that I can stop feeling jealous?". The comment section had advices that anybody dealing with jealousy can implement to stay away from it.

A user commented, "Well, from my experience, jealousy is just insecurity masquerading as another emotion. What you probably need to do is figure out what you’re deeply insecure about and why other people are making you jealous. What do they have that makes you feel insecure? What don’t you have that you wish you did? Are you lonely? Do you need more friends? You need to work on yourself".

Another one wrote, "How close are you to this friend? And had she told you how likely is it that you would’ve been excited for her? If you’re frequently experiencing jealousy and aren’t happy when other people are doing well they will pick up on it" and further asked them to discover what makes them sad and if they are unhappy with the relations they don't have and work on them to improve their relations with others.

Jealousy is a very common phenomenon noticed in romantic as well as friendly relationships. As friends, people are often jealous of other friends that their close friend has and they get upset if they spend more time with them and have fun with them apart from them. It often happens when best friends have different friend circles or live away from each other. The jealous friend will always feel sad about missing out having fun with their bestie which eventually make them jealous of the ones their friend spends time with. This will not only create misunderstanding in their friendship with their bestie but might also make them hate their bestie's friends for no reason at all.

In a romantic relationship, this jealousy, which often people find cute or romantic, can grow into something suffocating and toxic. Your partner has the right to make friends other than you, of both same and opposite sex. Having more friends does not mean your importance or priority in their life will decrease. In fact, you should try and be friendly with your partner's friends to make it comfortable for them to be in the same company as their friends and partner.

Jealousy can severe even the most deepest of relationships because jealous people lose their sense of rationality. Hence, be practical and rational when it comes to friendships and relationships and understand that your partners and friends have a life beyond you which you have to accept as it is their choice and right. It is also good for your own mental health which will only deteriorate worrying over their bond with others.