GET INSPIRED : The bitter consequences of jealousy

There is this famous Nigerian movie ‘Blood sisters’. A junior sister murdered her older sister just like that. It was all stirred up by envy! The big sister was happily married with two lovely kids, she was financially stable ; all this made her little sister’s rage rise to the fullest until she got plan B of taking her life. No matter how the big sister loved and cared for her, jealousy took the biggest part and bitter consequences yielded! Based on a true story, this movie describes most of us. All the routine cold wars that prevail within our hearts! Just that we don’t get the chance to take action, otherwise a good number would be jailed over murder. Though it seems shocking it’s the sheer truth. Search your heart; How often do you wish death and trouble for someone you consider your potential competitor? Do you ever feel so uncomfortable and isolated because you are among high class people? What was the last time you had to malice someone so they could lose their job just because you wouldn’t stand their presence? That’s jealousy, though it starts young and simple, jealousy grows big to make people act inhuman. The dictionary defines jealousy as resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage. For many, jealousy is an imaginary enemy and like their shadow it follows them every where. If you ask me, I strongly believe that jealousy was one of the major factors that ignited the 1994 genocide. With jealousy, a person needs not to offend you so that you can resent them. Jealousy is natural hate for someone. Ever heard of someone who hates you when you barely know each other, that’s definitely jealous. Have you ever felt insignificant, insecure and angry around someone? Maybe you are jealous of them. To a certain degree, all humans get jealous. This is because they want to be the best and can’t stand being challenged. However the more the envy grows, is the more people get ill intentions about their enemy or even themselves. Jealousy is harmful to life, just like the iceberg was to the Titanic. “Jealousy arouses a combination of grave emotions from within, such are anger, sadness, disgust and self hate at times,” says Gertrude Uwagaga. And jealousy being an emotion where one is so desperate to win, anything can happen. For instance, some commit suicide if they totally fail to cope with challenges! Imagine losing your dear life for just weird emotions! Despite the fact that jealousy is wicked, it spreads like a bush fire and has consumed hearts. People are so much interested in seeing others sink as they thrive and when the opposite happens, wrangles are encountered. We have lost people we cherished most at the hand of jealousy. Newspapers on a daily basis report killings between husbands and wives over a suspected extra marital relationship. Children have taken their parents to the grave just because they are jealous of possessions! Jealousy has intoxicated the meant to be good relationships. Trust is now a riddle! Jealousy can only be a riddle if we self examine ourselves. And on discovering what makes you that jealousy person you are, work towards changing. Have self esteem and work hard than hating those who are better than you. Everyone has a talent only that we spend ages hating those who use their talents than discover our own talent.Jealousy is a hindrance to psychological, economic and mental development. Do away with it and all good things will come to you. lillianean@yahoo.com