Envy is the force that drives us to want everything, right now, without worrying about the consequences. Those who give in to envy seek instant gratification of their primal urges, often to the detriment of others and their own commitments. They take, consume and sometimes abuse the kindness or weakness of those around them. But this unbridled quest for satisfaction leaves a bitter taste: guilt sets in, sadness follows, and the trust of others crumbles. To mask this reality, he starts to lie, to embellish the facts, and enters a vicious circle that isolates him more and more, sometimes plunging him into depression. To escape this emptiness, they turn to illusion - social networks, electronic games, drugs, victimisation.

In the great spiritual traditions, envy is seen as a real obstacle:

- a manifestation of the ego and ignorance, an illusion that perpetuates the cycle of suffering by feeding the insatiable desire for what others have.

- a ‘mental poison’ that disturbs our inner peace, trapping us in a cycle of rebirth and suffering, while driving us to unethical actions that harm ourselves and others.

- a poison for the soul that distances the individual from charity, compassion and God, and leads to sins such as lying and slander.

- a disrupter that leads to immoral behaviour and destroys solidarity within the community.

Here are some antidotes to envy:
1. Cultivate gratitude
2. Practise humility
3. Develop benevolence and compassion
4. Adopt a long-term vision
5. Detach yourself from material possessions
6. Meditate and practise introspection
7. Show charity and altruism

Personally, I regularly practise meditation, gratitude, asking for forgiveness and charity. This has helped me to achieve what I wanted: serenity, deep joy, unshakeable confidence, a loving family, a house by the sea, a chalet in the mountains, freedom, real friends, travel, and an exciting job. But all this takes effort, and I'm still trying. I strive to be love without expecting anything in return, which helps me to face up to the trials of life: responsibilities, honouring my commitments, setting an example, bad choices, deception, losing money, illness, old age.

Everyone has their own path to follow. Some choose immediate pleasure and future difficulties, others know how to channel their impulses to make their energy last.

Where do you place your desires on the axis of time? If you want to know, I've got a solution for you. Just ask me 😉