Thread by @DrPetra

Today’s #ResearchTip is envy is sadly very common in academia and often linked to competition (which many are taught as a positive thing). Remember your candle won’t burn brighter just because you blew out someone else’s flame. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd

It can be difficult when everyone around you seems to be sharing successes, making progress, or not experiencing blocks and barriers. It can make you feel angry, sad, anxious or inferior. And impact negatively on working relationships or your interactions online. #AcademicChatter

It may be tempting to blame other people for their progress, success or happiness rather than recognise and make space for your own disappointment, worries, or rejection. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd #PhdChat #gradschool #PhDHelp

Remember we don’t often know what is going on in people’s lives. Their successes may be obscuring a whole load of hardships and suffering you know nothing of. Comparing yourself with others can make negative feelings even worse #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd

What can you do if you’re struggling with envy? You can talk to trusted friends,learn from peers how common it is, write or draw how you feel, seek advice or reassurance if you are finding it is impacting on your work, life or studies. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd

There is a difference between envy, which sucks, but is quite common and you can get through it. Versus you being distressed by individuals or situations that deliberately sideline, shut you out, put you down or limit your progress. Those need resisting by us all #AcademicChatter

For example, I can feel envious when I see someone getting praise for their hard work, not because I don’t like them but because I’d like some pats too. And I can feel rightly angry when someone is given credit for work I originated. The former is envy, the latter, injustice.

Sometimes envy is muddled up with all kinds of other things from toxic work/study spaces to a lack of instruction on how things work or where you should be at. That can be challenging and your support network can be invaluable to tease out where specific help is needed #HigherEd

Everyone deals with it differently. My tip is recognise and give space to it. Don’t bottle it up, or lash out at others. Allow yourself unpleasant feelings away from those that don’t need to hear them. And channel your energy towards those that need to be accountable. #HigherEd

Also, notice what envy is doing to you. The old saying 'comparison is the thief of joy' is true. If you're dwelling on someone else's successes and it's tainting your own achievements, preventing you progressing,or seeking help, then it's good to get advice/perspective. #HigherEd

I'm certainly guilty of spending a lot of time being very annoyed with others for making progress when I was struggling due to ill health, finances and relationship issues. It wasn't their fault I was in difficulties, but in my powerlessness it was easier to hate them #HigherEd

Bullying can take on many forms, but one driver most certainly is envy. It's very easy to badmouth, belittle and block someone you feel jealous of. Minoritised scholars are on the receiving end of this a LOT. #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp

Avoiding brooding and bullying are two reasons to get some perspective on your envy and note if it's masking other disadvantages or harms you're facing (and get help with those situations). Or whether you might be potentially causing harm to yourself and others. #AcademicChatter