When we consciously step onto the path of spiritual ascension, we don’t just step into the light; we immediately encounter the shadows—the various demons that have been quietly lurking in the unlit corners of our minds. Chief among these is the deeply ingrained tendency to compare ourselves or our current situation to that of another, longing for that which we do not possess. Jealousy is just one of the many masks that desire wears, but it is notoriously tenacious. It whispers that we are lacking and that someone else holds the key to our happiness.
These jealous thoughts are a double-edged sword: they simultaneously denigrate our own self-worth while placing the other person on an impossible pedestal. However, the underlying reality is vastly different from the distorted picture painted by our egoic minds.
The Illusion of the Costume
Fundamentally, we are all exactly the same—pure, unbounded consciousness. None of the external traits, possessions, or circumstances that we so fiercely covet or defend are who we truly are. They are merely the costumes we wear for the roles we have chosen to play.
The game of life, if we can call it that, is not about accumulating the most impressive external resume. Rather, it is designed for us to have a highly specific, localized experience and to learn how to navigate it. The true victory lies in learning how to draw out the marrow of positive emotions—like love, contentment, and joy—in spite of the obstacles that face us. It is about finding inner stillness within external chaos.
Architects of Our Own Growth
From a broader spiritual perspective, we live many lives. Across the span of our existence, we have seen, or will see, it all: we will play the rich and the poor, the healthy and the sickly, the strong and the weak. Every single variation is meant to act as the crucible of the soul, burning away the ego to reveal the truth beneath.
And the most surprising, empowering realization is this: we are entirely complicit in this design. We have been a partner in the planning of our own lives. Before we ever took a breath, we understood exactly what we needed to learn, the karma we needed to balance, and the specific challenges required to achieve the profound growth our soul craves. When we realize we chose our own curriculum, we shift from being victims of circumstance to being the architects of our destiny.
The Tools You Were Promised
The silver lining to this intense spiritual curriculum is that we are never sent into the fray empty-handed. In every single life, we arrive encoded with certain innate talents, passions, and strengths that we are meant to exercise.
The universe does not set us up to fail. Whatever spiritual milestones we hope to achieve, and despite the formidable challenges that we face, we have been given the precise tools necessary for us to succeed. “Success” in this realm isn’t necessarily about acquiring what your neighbor has; it is about mastering the unique lessons you set out for yourself.
Turning Inward
Ultimately, the journey of ascension requires us to radically shift our focus. When that familiar pang of jealousy arises, we must learn to view it not as a personal failure, but as an alarm bell—a reminder that we have momentarily forgotten who we are and why we are here. By releasing the need to compare our behind-the-scenes struggles with someone else’s highlight reel, we free up immense amounts of energy. We can then redirect that energy toward the only task that truly matters: playing our own chosen role to the absolute best of our ability, armed with the profound gifts we were given, and finding profound joy in the unique journey of our own soul.
