I'll be honest. I dislike the feeling of jealousy. It hurts and makes me unhappy. And yet when it knocks, jealousy usually has something brilliant to say. I've learned to open up and listen so it doesn't take root.

Here are a few examples:

If I feel a twinge of jealousy when I see another person full of clarity or beauty, I am best served to admit something. The other person has been willing to allow a part of their deepest self to shine through. These deep parts of every human being, when we let them free, are always clear and quite beautiful. Jealousy is tapping me on the shoulder to remind me of this.

If jealousy pricks me when another says something profound, intelligent or witty, it is asking me to take note. It wants me to: let go, be real, and reconnect to who I am. It wants me to give up pretense, be honest and become fully engaged in my own expressive play.

If jealousy creeps in when I see others confident and composed in difficult situations, it is asking me to be honest again. It wants to know if possibly these other people have developed themselves to a point of fearlessness through practice. It is asking me: Have you developed your own fearlessness and to its fullest capacity?

Like a whimpering child or whining puppy, jealousy simply notices who someone else is willing to be. Jealousy whispers back to us: Let it happen! Allow yourself! Stop holding back!

My question then is this: Are you willing to listen and take action or do you like turning green?