How I Tamed My Envy of Almost Everyone but Especially Elizabeth Gilbert

However, what is less known is that we can also project buried talents and positive qualities onto others. Jung called this the ‘Golden Shadow,’ which contains the creative potential and greatness in ourselves that we are unable to see (except in other people), perhaps because we were shamed for these qualities or maybe because owning them would be... See more

I was shocked when I realized that I actually wasn’t envious of Gilbert’s professional success. I admired it, but it wasn’t what had triggered me. What ignited my envy was the fact that she was doing the work that she wanted to do and was willing to chart her own course in a way I had been afraid to do.