Is professional jealousy normal and ok?

[Anonymous]

This happened to me recently; a friend is trying to compete with me on different things from multiple occasion. How you will deal with that?

[Oliverlogan263]

Yo, professional jealousy can definitely be a thing, but it's not really something that's cool or healthy to indulge in. I mean, it's totally normal to feel a little envious or competitive sometimes, but you gotta try to keep that in check, you know?

When your friend is trying to compete with you on different things, that's a red flag. It's one thing to challenge each other and push each other to be better, but if it's coming from a place of jealousy and resentment, that's not good.

The best way to deal with that kind of situation is to try to have an open and honest conversation with your friend. Let them know that you've noticed them getting competitive with you, and ask if there's something going on that you can help with. See if you can get to the root of where that jealousy is coming from.

Sometimes people act out like that because they're feeling insecure or they think you're trying to one-up them. But if you approach it from a place of understanding and try to find a way to build each other up, that's way better than just letting the jealousy fester.

You could also try to find ways to collaborate instead of compete. See if there are projects or opportunities where you can work together and support each other's growth, rather than seeing it as a zero-sum game.

At the end of the day, you gotta remember that your own success doesn't diminish your friend's worth. There's room for both of you to shine. So try not to let their jealousy get you down or make you feel like you have to hold yourself back.

Just stay confident, be a good friend, and lead by example. Hopefully, they'll come around and realize that working together is way better than trying to one-up each other. It's all about finding that balance, you know?

[Nikki1989]

Yes, it is normal. Competition and a desire for success are inherent human drives.