You need to be jealous. That’s right. You’re supposed to be envious of the girl with the flawless Instagram, cute boyfriend and perfect grades. Surely, there is at least one girl you can think of, and say “I wish I had her life.” We’ve all been there. Fortunately, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay (even beneficial) to be jealous. Please, hear me out.
It’s okay to be jealous of someone if that feeling pushes you to improve your own life.
Not in a superficial way with thoughts like, “I wish I had her body type”or “I wish I was as tall as her.” We’re all unique and you shouldn’t want to change you who are. If you catch yourself saying, “I wish I had her job, GPA, or drive”, then you are on the right track! Jealousy is normal (even productive) if aimed in the right direction.
If you’re jealous of her internship
A great resource on campus is the Career Center, and its totally free. This is a place you can go to for mock interviews, help with your resume and find out about job openings. If you have mutual friends with this person you should add them on LinkedIn. The Internet is your friend when it comes to finding connections!
If you’re jealous of her grades
The never-ending battle of instant gratification vs. long-term payoff; Trust me, I know the struggle is real when choosing between Pinterest and homework. You can do it! Try to pay attention to your most productive hours of the day, and clear all distractions. Just keep in mind why you’re in college in the first place.
If you’re jealous of her determination
Make a list of goals that you want to complete for the semester. This is a great way to keep yourself accountable, and see your progress. Hang it up at your desk or somewhere that you will see it everyday. You can’t change your past, but you’re in control of your future!
You should never let jealousy question your self worth, or make you want to be someone else. Take hold of your college experiences, so you’ll be ready to take on the world. Now, the next time you see a post filled with perfection, instead of thinking, “I wish my life looked like that”, turn it around and say, “I can’t wait for my life to look like that”, because “I’m going to work hard for what I want.” At the end of the day, the most important thing to be is yourself.