The Default Setting of Humans If we pause and look within, we may
discover an uncomfortable truth — the default setting of the human
heart is often envy. At the core of our being, we subtly envy even
God. We desire to be superior, to control, to stand above others — to
lord over everything.
This same envy quietly extends toward His children — our peers,
colleagues, and family. We compare ourselves constantly and
struggle to accept anyone moving ahead of us, especially in our own
field.
“Envy blinds us from seeing the good in others and blocks our
own growth.”We may easily praise those who pose no threat, yet
when someone close to us succeeds, our heart trembles with
restlessness. When our peers are appreciated by superiors, we feel
uneasy — sometimes even resentful. Instead of celebrating their
success, we feel an urge to prove that they don’t deserve it.
We highlight their mistakes, ignore their virtues, and waste our
energy in comparison. In this way, envy becomes the silent
destroyer of peace, relationships, and progress.
I believe envy is one of the greatest diseases plaguing humanity. It
breeds division, conflict, and dissatisfaction. Even when we have
much to be thankful for, envy whispers, “You deserve more.”And
when someone truly qualified rises above, instead of learning from
them, we pull them down — and in doing so, we pull ourselves down
too.
The Antidote to EnvyIf envy is the disease, then gratitude and
appreciation are its most powerful antidotes. The moment we shift
our focus from competition to contribution, and from comparison to
collaboration, healing begins.
Below are five practical ways to apply the antidote in daily life:
Realize That Envy Burns You, Not Others Envy does not harm the
person you envy — it corrodes your own peace and happiness.
Once you release envy and cultivate gratitude, your energy,
creativity, and joy multiply many fold.
“When we replace comparison with contribution, the heart
blossoms with contentment
Appreciate Your Partners Learn to genuinely acknowledge and
celebrate others’ achievements. A word of appreciation does not
make you smaller — it makes your heart larger.
See the Good in Others Train your eyes to notice positive qualities
rather than flaws. Every person has something valuable to teach —
if we choose to see it.
Serve Them in Small Ways Humility is expressed through service.
When we serve those we once envied, bitterness dissolves and
respect blossoms.
Learn from Them If someone is better than you in certain areas,
treat them as your teacher. Instead of pulling them down, rise by
learning from their example.
Gratitude – The Heart of Joy and Success The foundation of a
grateful heart is the ability to see and appreciate the good in others
— especially among our equals, friends, and family.
True gratitude begins not by admiring distant heroes but by
acknowledging the virtues of those right beside us. As
HH Radhanath Swami beautifully says:
“If you are not grateful, you are a great fool.”
Gratitude is not merely an emotion; it is a spiritual vision — the lens
through which we see divine grace operating through people and
events in our lives.
Our heart is like a piece of land:
Gratitude is the fertility of the soil.
An ungrateful heart is barren — where no virtues can grow.
A grateful heart, however, is rich and fertile — nurturing humility,
compassion, and joy one by one.
When gratitude becomes our nature, we attract the positive energy
of the universe.
Life begins to flow with harmony, abundance, and peace.“A
grateful heart turns ordinary days into blessings, and routine
work into worship.”
Living with Gratitude:The Secret to Joy and Success
The journey from envy to gratitude is the journey from darkness to
light. It transforms competition into cooperation, arrogance into
humility, and stress into serenity.
When we cultivate gratitude, we stop asking, “Why not me?” and
start saying, “I’m happy it’s them.” That single shift unlocks a flood
of inner joy, confidence, and grace.
Gratitude is the seed from which all good qualities grow. It connects
us to God, aligns us with universal harmony, and opens the door to
lasting success – not just in career, but in life itself.
Gratitude is not a reaction; it’s a realization – that everything we have
is a gift.