Identifying jealousy in your friendship can be tricky, especially if your friend has a talent for a fake friendship and can pretend to be a good friend no matter how much they hate you. Although jealousy is a natural emotion and it’s okay to get jealous every now and then, this emotion can ruin even the strongest relationships. Sometimes jealous friends are like toxic friends. They can belittle you, hurt you and prevent you from reaching your goals and living a happy and successful life. Since your friends will never tell you that they are jealous of you, here are several definite signs to watch out for.
1. They humiliate you in front of others
If your friends are verbally abusive, they are certainly jealous of you and they actually hate you. You may not notice it at first, but pay close attention to their behaviors and then draw a conclusion. True friends will never humiliate you in front of your parents, friends, or coworkers. They will show everyone that they are proud to know you and be your friends. Remove toxic friends from your life, and your life can get much better without them.
2. They don’t praise your achievements
If you’ve just got a promotion or found a well-paid job, but you see that your friends don’t praise your achievements and they give negative or insincere compliments, they are definitely jealous of you. True friends are always happy for your accomplishments and they will never tell you something like, ‘Perhaps other candidates were even stupider than you,’ or ‘You don’t have a higher education to land this job, I wonder how your employer didn’t notice it.’ Don’t let anyone belittle you, be proud of yourself and your accomplishments.
3. They avoid you
If your friend suddenly starts avoiding you after your promotion or wedding, it’s a warning sign they are jealous of you. They just can’t see you successful and happy, when they have a low paycheck and a rented house, or when they are lonely. Once they buy a new car or house, or get married, they will definitely let you know about it. They will call you or meet you to brag about their achievements.
4. They don’t help you
Jealous friends will never help you achieve your goals. They will try to spoil your life instead. They will put a spoke in your wheel at the first opportunity. They won’t support you and won’t encourage you to succeed. Jealous friends can tell you something like, ‘Your boss was right. You’re not smart enough to accomplish that project,’ or ‘You don’t need this job, so quit it right now,’ or ‘Your boyfriend is not for you, try to find a better guy.’
Read also – 7 Smart Ways to Free Yourself from Toxic Friends
5. They always compete with you
Jealous friends will always want to be better than you. If you have a high paycheck, they will do anything to get a higher paycheck. If you have a big house, they will run in any debts to buy a bigger one. They don’t notice that their feelings of intense jealousy make them miserable. They believe that you are the main reason of their unhappy life. Don’t feel guilty for being more successful than your friend. Your friend should feel guilty for being so jealous and miserable.
6. They copy everything you do
Jealous friends are born imitators. They love to pretend to be someone they ‘hate.’ If you’ve noticed that some of your friends are trying to talk like you, act like you, dress like you, eat like you and walk like you, it’s a red flag. They are envious of you and they are trying to show you that you are not special. This way, they are trying to be better than you and belittle you in the eyes of others. Stay away from such friends, they will bring only misery to you.
7. They are constantly criticizing you
It’s okay when your friend criticizes you every now and then, because it’s hard to see what you are doing wrong. But if they criticize your skills and your actions every time you see them, it’s a definite sign they are jealous of you. Don’t take it personal. They are not satisfied with their life so they are trying to make your life as miserable as possible. They simply envy your success and they want to be as happy as you are.
This world is full of jealous people, whether we want it or not. All we can do is identify jealous friends and shy away from them. Don’t jump in conclusions, though, if you are not sure about your friend. Talk to your friend or watch their behavior before ending your friendship. Remember, people tend to make mistakes, so if your friend is genuinely sorry for their behavior and actions, maybe it’s good to save your friendship. Do you have jealous friends?