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When is Envy a Good Thing? This column is primarily about human motivation, and because of it, I’ve considered writing about envy for years. It is a negative emotion which has been condemned by all cultures throughout history, yet it is a powerful motivator. Envy can be terribly destructive, and surprisingly . . . constructive. Envy, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, joined with a desire to possess the same advantage . People often mistakenly use the word “jealousy” when they mean “envy.” The feeling of jealousy is the anxiety we feel when someone tries to take something we have earned, already own, or feel we have a right to. Envy is about coveting what we don’t have. I believe envy is rooted in fear. The fear of feeling weak, impotent, or powerless. Advertisers love to fan the flames of envy. Getting people to one-up the Jones’ gets them to spend money. Helmut Schoeck, from his book Envy states, “Envy is a drive which lies at the core of man’s life as a social being, and which occurs as soon as two individuals become capable of mutual comparison.” He also notes, “It is the great regulator in all personal relationships: fear of arousing it curbs and modifies countless actions.” Oftentimes, if someone raves too much about an accomplishment of ours, we feel it necessary to balance it by mentioning some misfortune we’ve experienced. The closer people are within a society, the greater the propensity for envy. We are more likely to resent our siblings, neigh- bors, and classmates because we make comparisons based on our common backgrounds. When my sons were little, I noticed my older son envying some of my younger son’s accomplishments in sports. I tried to help him see the advantage his little brother enjoyed was the opportunity of getting to watch him play, and learn from his mis- takes. Meanwhile, my younger son envied him getting to do everything first while he had to sit on the sidelines. I have envied; and have been envied. It’s not a terribly strong emotion for me, but I’ve been guilty of it as recently as this week: reading the Facebook posts of friends who are enjoying fabulous vacations, retiring early, or reaching an achievement I haven’t yet attained. Humor columnist Harold Coffin once noted, “Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own.” When I recognize the feeling, I have to remind myself I made different choices in my life with results which were equally satisfying; then I am able to move on and share in their joy. This quote from Jean Vanier, a Canadian Catholic philosopher, really gets at the heart of the matter, “Envy comes from people's ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.” Envy is also spawned by feelings of injustice. Most societies strive to suppress envy because of how destructive it can be. In 18th century France, the ideas of The Enlightenment diminished the belief in The Devine Right of Kings , which meant the nobility were no different than average men. The aristocracy, jealous of its power, did not wish to yield any of it; which in turn, fomented a sense of envy among the common people and led to the bloody French Revolution. Schoeck also notes, “Most communities have developed or adapted customs and views that enable individual members of a tribe to be unequal in one way or another without being harmed by the envy of the others.” It’s a balancing act. Many gov- ernment programs are designed to limit envy: old-age retirement funds, welfare, free education and libraries, universal health- care, and access to national parks and other state-owned recreation areas. For most of its history, the United States has kept envy in check because of the economic opportunities freedom offers its people. In America, you could put your resentment to work by starting your own business and creating wealth for yourself. Homer G. Barnett, an American anthropologist stated, “Envious men innovate to compensate for their physical, economic, or other handicaps.” It was the envy of American prosperity which drove the desire for democracy around the globe. In recent years, however, government regulation, high taxes, and inflation have limited those opportunities, which in turn, has increased the demand for government benefit programs; all of which, inhibits eco- nomic growth even further. The faltering economy in the United States has in- creased feelings of injustice and envy. The best cure for envy is prosperity, and the best thing about envy is it some- times motivates innovation. So, the next time you get irritated by the unfairness of someone having more than you, channel the energy into changing the situation yourself. Robert michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com $$ ! ! ! " ! ### ! The Un-Comfort Zone II by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. 50 OCTOBER 2016 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®