It is perplexing to see that in a society that values success and accomplishment, there are those who, when someone else is successful, concentrate more on the shortcomings of that person rather than the things that they have achieved. This conduct is not simply a social occurrence; rather, it has profound roots in psychological conceptions as well as spiritual ideas. Let’s investigate the reasons why some people, when confronted with the success of another, tend toward being negative.
1. The Emotional Context:
a. Comparison and Jealousy:
The psychological mechanism of comparison is at the root of many of the unfavorable responses that people have to the success of another person. According to the Social Comparison Theory, an individual’s perception of their own value is shaped by how they compare to the experiences and accomplishments of other people. When someone else achieves success, it has the potential to make other people feel like they are not doing as well as they should be or that they are falling behind, which can lead to emotions of jealousy.
b. Cognitive Dissonance: Cognitive dissonance is a state of mental discomfort that occurs when a person’s beliefs collide with new facts. For instance, if a person has a firm view that they are the most talented person in their circle, then witnessing the success of another person can contradict that idea, which would cause them to concentrate on the negatives in order to resolve the internal conflict that they are experiencing.
c. Egos Are Threatened: Success, especially when it comes quickly or out of the blue, can pose a danger to the egos of those who surround the achiever. This danger might take the form of negativity, as some individuals, in an effort to safeguard their own sense of value, would try to undermine the achievements of others.
d. Erroneous Attributions: Sometimes, people will mistakenly ascribe the success of another individual to luck, connections, or even underhanded techniques rather than to the individual’s own aptitude and effort. This misattribution is a means for them to make peace with the fact that they have not attained the same level of achievement.
2. The Spiritual Context: a. The Shadow Self The’shadow self’ is a concept that may be found in Jungian psychology as well as in many different spiritual traditions. It refers to the darker, more concealed portions of our mind. When one person achieves success, it has the potential to bring out these shadow features in others, particularly if those individuals have not recognized or dealt with the anxieties and jealousies that they themselves harbor.
a. Karmic Lessons: A number of different spiritual beliefs propose that the reason we are here on Earth is to learn certain lessons. Both the individual who is doing well and the person who is resorting to negativity have the potential to learn and grow as a result of being confronted with negativity. For the person who is successful, it may be a lesson in modesty and compassion, while for the person who is unsuccessful, it may be a lesson in adoration and contentment.
c. The Transmission of Energy Many different religious and spiritual traditions hold the belief that thoughts and feelings transmit energy. The transmission of negative energy can be understood as occurring when someone reacts negatively to the success of another person. Those who feel threatened or envious may secretly wish for the successful person to experience the same level of sorrow or uneasiness that they do.
d. The Cycle of Duality: Spiritual traditions frequently discuss the inherent duality of reality, including the existence of light and dark, good and evil, and successful and unsuccessful outcomes. A reminder that life is a mixture of both great and unpleasant experiences, negativity directed towards another person’s accomplishment can be considered as a part of the natural balance that exists between the two.
The conclusion is that having a negative reaction to another person’s accomplishment is the result of a complicated interaction between psychology and spirituality. Individuals can gain a better understanding of their reactions and create a more positive and supportive mindset by being aware of these underlying variables, which can aid them. There is reason to expect that, as society gains a greater awareness of these processes, celebrating accomplishment without falling back on pessimism may eventually become the norm.
