By Steve Avan

We like to believe that envy is about others — about their fame, beauty, or success. But envy, at its core, is never about them. It’s about the parts of ourselves we’ve left unexplored, unloved, or forgotten.

The world doesn’t provoke us to punish us. It reflects us. It holds up a mirror to what we’ve denied within. Every reaction, every judgment, every wave of jealousy — is simply life whispering, “Here is where you’ve abandoned your own light.”

The Mirror Effect of Success

When someone rises, we see more than their achievement — we see our own limitation. The higher they climb, the more clearly we glimpse the mountain we’ve refused to ascend.

Take the story of a young Hungarian athlete — professional football player Szoboszlai Dominik. His focus, his discipline, and his courage to live his purpose have made him a symbol of success. Yet, when you read the comment sections beneath his victories, something deeper unfolds. The applause is there, yes — but so is the projection. The envy. The quiet resentment.

Because his dedication confronts something uncomfortable: the part in us that didn’t dare to give everything. His light reminds us of our own excuses.

We don’t dislike his success. We dislike the reflection of our own unlived potential.

Envy Is Not Evil — It’s Information

Envy is not proof of weakness. It’s a message. It shows us where our energy has been trapped — in comparison, regret, or fear. It asks us to look closer, to meet the version of ourselves that still believes we are less.

When you feel that sting of jealousy, pause. Don’t push it away. Listen. Beneath that emotion lies longing — not for what they have, but for the part of you that’s ready to awaken.

As Carl Jung once said: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

From Comparison to Creation

Every soul journey begins the same way — with a mirror. You can use it to compare, or you can use it to transform. The moment you stop judging another’s path and start walking your own, the reflection changes.

Because the truth is this: you were never meant to replicate anyone’s success. You were meant to embody your own.

The world doesn’t need more critics. It needs more creators. More people who dare to act on the spark that envy first revealed.

So next time you feel the mirror burn — don’t look away.

Look closer. Because the person you envy is not ahead of you — they’re showing you what’s possible for you.

The mirror never lies.
It only asks: “Are you ready to see what’s been waiting inside you all along?”

— Steve Avan

Sometimes, the world shows us our wings before we remember we have them.