How to Manage Jealousy
Help kids reframe negative beliefs so they can feel better and do better.
Jealousy is when we want something that someone else has.
It is a universal emotion, meaning that we all experience it at times (even the people we think “have it all” get jealous). Jealousy is uncomfortable and can often evoke feelings like insecurity, resentfulness, anger, and depression. Examining our feelings and behaviors around jealousy can help alleviate the discomfort.
Jealousy can be sparked by comparison, attention, exclusion, or rejection.
By encouraging open conversations about why jealousy happens, we can help children develop empathy for themselves and others. Practicing gratitude, focusing on personal strengths, and learning to celebrate the successes of others can turn jealousy into an opportunity for growth. With the right guidance, jealousy can be understood, managed, and transformed into positive actions.
Try these talking points to help kids explore jealousy:
Let’s think of some scenarios where someone might feel jealous.
Have you ever felt like this?
Is jealousy comfortable, uncomfortable, or “it depends?”
Jealousy is complicated, but we know that that there are some reliable ways to manage it: gratitude, motivation, perspective-taking.
What do you have in your life that you are grateful for?
How can jealous feelings motivate positive change?
How are your jealous feelings affecting your behavior and attitude towards others?
How do you want to handle jealousy in the future?
What is something that makes you feel good?
Jealousy can motivate positive change!
Practice, commitment, training, support—what do you need to reach your goals? What can you hone or appreciate or rediscover to acknowledge your own unique value?
A Printable Resource
We made a printable, customizable version of this blog post! Help kids think, write, and talk about jealousy to promote a nuanced approach to the examination of complicated emotions.
Find this worksheet and more HERE.
Books thAT Explore Jealousy & GRatitude
