Jealousy: The Corrosion of Inner Harmony

Jealousy is a powerful force capable of turning the radiance of the soul into a gloomy realm of distrust and inner discord. At the core of this destructive emotion lies the desire to be everything for another, a wish to constantly compare oneself to others, which creates painful insecurity and envy. Instead of fostering personal growth, jealousy slowly but surely decomposes sincere emotions, transforming them into malice and self-discontent, thus distorting our perception of both ourselves and those close to us. This inner poison leaves us without genuine self-control and the ability to communicate harmoniously, undermining self-respect and impeding the understanding of true values. In the end, only by overcoming envy and learning to accept personal weaknesses along with the successes of others can one restore inner integrity and gain emotional freedom.

How does jealousy deprive a person of emotional or personal qualities, and why does it arise?

Jealousy works destructively on a person’s inner world, stripping them of sincerity, self-control, and the capacity to experience true positive emotions. Rather than promoting personal development, jealousy fills the heart with malice, envy, and a constant feeling of inadequacy. A person engulfed by jealousy stops perceiving themselves and others accurately: their emotions become distorted, while their personal qualities gradually decay. Thus, jealousy turns into a poison that infects the soul, destroying the ability for harmonious communication, compassion, and wise self-control.

The emergence of jealousy is often rooted in an overwhelming desire to be “everything” for another, mixed with the constant habit of comparing oneself to others. When a person finds it difficult to accept that someone else might possess what they themselves lack—whether it is success, respect, or love—their inner insecurity transforms into a painful feeling of envy. As one source notes, jealousy “has blinded our senses and taken hold of our secret thoughts,” depriving a person of the ability to govern themselves and harboring the root of all evils (source: 1739_8690.txt). Similarly, another text emphasizes the soul-destroying power of jealousy: “And what a worm it is for the soul, what poison for thoughts, what rust for the heart—to envy the virtues or happiness of another...; and since jealousy never abandons the envious, the heart, plagued by it day and night, is incessantly tormented” (source: 1119_5593.txt).

Thus, jealousy strips a person of their most valuable emotional and personal qualities by irritating the true sense of self-worth, undermining emotional stability, and impairing the ability to form healthy relationships. Its roots go back to inherently selfish impulses, where constant comparison and the inability to accept both one’s own weaknesses and the achievements of others lead to a burgeoning sense of hatred and the destruction of inner harmony.

Supporting citation(s):
"Jealousy’s ruin stretches far and wide: it is manifold and fecund. It is the root of all evils, the source of devastation, the breeding ground of sins, the cause of crimes. From this arises hatred, from this comes restlessness. Jealousy stokes greed when one cannot be content with what is one’s own upon seeing another’s wealth. Jealousy fuels ambition when one sees another honored above oneself. Once jealousy has blinded our senses and taken hold of our secret thoughts, the fear of God is immediately despised, the teachings of Christ are neglected, the day of judgment is not considered, pride swells, cruelty intensifies, treachery multiplies, impatience torments, discord rages, anger boils—and he who succumbs to another’s power can no longer restrain or govern himself. From this stems a break in the connection with the Kingdom of the Lord, a violation of brotherly love, a distortion of truth, a schism in unity." (source: 1739_8690.txt)

"And what a worm it is for the soul, what poison for thoughts, what rust for the heart—to envy the virtues or happiness of another, that is, to hate in him either his own merits or his qualities as God’s blessings, to transform another’s goods into one’s own evil, to suffer from the prosperity of prominent people, to make another’s glory a death sentence for oneself, and to attach to one’s heart, as if with executioners, tormentors who draw near to one’s thoughts and feelings, those who would tear the hidden recesses of the heart with claws of malice! For such people, food brings no joy, nor can drink be pleasant; they constantly sigh, moan, and grieve; and as jealousy never abandons the envious, the heart, possessed by it day and night, is incessantly tormented." (source: 1119_5593.txt)