Some comparison is natural but when it becomes excessive then it leads to envy and jealousy. How jealous or envious are you? Find out by taking the following quiz. But try to be honest without judging yourself. We all possess these tendencies to a varying extent at different times. Be brave. Identify areas where you need to grow. Answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions.
Quiz: How Jealous or Envious Are You?
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?
How to interpret this quiz
If you had 0 yeses – You have very little jealousy or envy (or, you’re kidding yourself).
If you had 1 yes – You have a small amount of jealousy or envy. Be aware that even one affirmative response gives you an opportunity to clear these emotions.
If you had 2 yeses – You have a small amount of jealousy or envy.
If you had 3 yeses – You have a moderate amount of jealousy or envy.
If you had 4 yeses – You have a moderate amount of jealousy or envy.
If you had 5 yeses – You have a moderate amount of jealousy or envy.
If you had 6 yeses – You have a significant amount of jealousy or envy.
If you had 7 yeses – You have a significant amount of jealousy or envy.
If you had 8 yeses – You have a significant amount of jealousy or envy.
If you had 9 yeses – You have a significant amount of jealousy or envy.
(Learn more about combating jealousy and envy in Chapter 11)
Judith Orloff, MD is a New York Times bestselling author whose books include The Genius of Empathy: Practical Tools to Heal Yourself, Your Relationships and the World, The Empath’s Survival Guide, and Thriving as an Empath, which presents daily self-care tools for sensitive people. Her upcoming children’s book The Highly Sensitive Rabbit is about a caring rabbit who learns to embrace her gifts of sensitivity through the love and support of other animals. A UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty Member, she blends the pearls of conventional medicine with cutting-edge knowledge of intuition, empathy, and energy. Dr. Orloff specializes in treating highly sensitive people in her private practice and online internationally. Her work has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Oprah Magazine, the New York Times, and USA Today. Dr. Orloff has spoken at Google-LA and TEDx. Explore more at www.drjudithorloff.com