How Jealous Are You? Take Our Quiz

Advice from Judith Orloff, M.D.

Feeling envious of others can be detrimental to your career, friendships, and relationships. Take our quiz below to determine what role jealousy plays in your life-and then rid yourself of it with a self-esteem boost.

It can be difficult to admit feeling jealousy or envy; it’s hard to say that we don’t want the best for others because their accomplishments make us feel small, or to acknowledge the depth of our self-doubt about our own value. Nevertheless, to be emotionally free, we must do both. The quiz [below] offers insight into how jealous or envious you are. Try to be honest without judging yourself. We all possess these tendencies to a varying extent.

Jealousy and Envy Quiz

ASK YOURSELF:
Do I sometimes get satisfaction from putting people down?
Would I feel relieved if a colleague didn’t get promoted, even though I may like him or her?
Do I often think that others are better off than me?
Do I resent people who seem to have everything?
Do I feel diminished by someone’s beauty, brains, or accomplishments?
Am I afraid of people trying to outdo me?
Am I threatened by my mate’s past?
Am I bent out of shape when my mate looks at someone else?
Do I see my mate’s friends as rivals for my attention or affection?

Answering yes to six or more questions indicates a significant amount of jealousy or envy, three to five yeses a moderate amount, one or two yeses a small amount, zero yeses probably very little (or you’re kidding yourself). Be aware that even one affirmative response gives you an opportunity to clear these emotions.

Self-esteem is the solution to jealousy and envy. It is a living, breathing positive force that expands from within. Self-esteem is a heart-centered sense of worth, a belief in yourself and your spiritual unfolding.

For more advice on finding emotional freedom by releasing yourself from negativity, check out the EMOTIONAL REPAIR KIT and the book EMOTIONAL FREEDOM, read a book excerpt, and visit Dr. Judith Orloff’s website.

Copyright © 2009 by Potter Style, a division of Random House, Inc.. From the EMOTIONAL REPAIR KIT: 50 TOOLS TO LIBERATE YOURSELF FROM NEGATIVE EMOTIONS by Judith Orloff, M.D. Based on the New York Times bestseller EMOTIONAL FREEDOM by Judith Orloff, M.D. Reprinted with permission.

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