https://www.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/1je3dum/others_success/
created by SwimmingComparison64 on 18/03/2025 at 12:06 UTC
2 upvotes, 7 top-level comments (showing 7)
How do you avoid feeling bad when others have succeeded more than you have?
Comment by optimistically_eyed at 18/03/2025 at 12:08 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
By deliberately cultivating a sense of joy in the well-being and happiness of others.
It’s a practice one can (and perhaps *should*) undertake, consciously and deliberately.
Comment by Somebody23 at 18/03/2025 at 12:19 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What do I lose if someones life goes better than my own? I should be happy that they are doing well.
Selfpity helps in a moment, but should not be practiced, because you will find reason to your misfortune in other people.
Be grateful what you have, lower your expectations and you will be content what you have.
Comment by NangpaAustralisMajor at 18/03/2025 at 12:44 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
One of the greatest ways to generate merit (translate: positive energy and generally good mojo) is to rejoice in the success and merit of others.
So if you see somebody who has done something great like cure people of illness or broker peace in a war-- we can't do those things, but if we rejoice in that positivity we share that merit.
Comment by Excellent_Scar_979 at 18/03/2025 at 12:53 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Let's call it what it is: jealousy is a completely normal feeling. Perhaps you're comparing his success to your limitations. Instead of being jealous, let yourself be inspired. Turn poison into nectar.
Comment by Ok_Watercress_4596 at 18/03/2025 at 15:01 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Compare yourself with yourself, because there is always someone you can compare yourself with and feel better or worse. One implies the other and so if you want to feel better than someone you will have to inevitably feel worse than someone else.
If you compare yourself with yourself then all you will see is progress, awesome reality
Comment by el7114 at 18/03/2025 at 12:17 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
One important thing to note is also to not carry the burden of self-blaming :) We tend to behave according to the existing habits. It takes mindfulness and patience to slowly change our thought patterns, perhaps by looking at things from a different perspective and (like the other comment says) cultivate that habit of being joyful for others’ happiness. still, it most likely does not happen overnight :)
Sometimes, the way I see it is: if anybody else’s (wholesome) happiness can bring me joy, I’d have so much joy over every instances every day! And it doesn’t matter much if I’m ”less successful” while I live a ”nicer/happier” life. This motivates me to cultivate this joyful habit.
Comment by Astalon18 at 18/03/2025 at 16:10 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
By practicing Mudita.