The Green Eyed Monster

Jealousy is the dragon in paradise; the hell of heaven; and the most bitter of the emotions because associated with the sweetest.

~A. R. Orage


Jealousy, the green eyed monster. Money is the root of all evil, but I reckon that jealousy can give money a run for its money (no pun intended) as the root of all evil.

Similar to what a famous green skinned alien (no relation to the green eyed monster) in a galaxy far, far away once said, though his was in reference to fear, "Jealousy leads to paranoia. Paranoia leads to distrust. Distrust leads to conflict." And before you know it, your whole world has collapsed and you're living in your very own personal green hell.

It's a destructive emotion if not controlled. It's irrational and denies all logic, and it's impulsive, based largely on a person's raw and powerful feelings. It's often easy to analyse and find the source of jealousy, but understanding why the source causes jealousy is often illogical and does not obey any rationale. It's a perfect example of heart over mind.

You can find out why you're being jealous and come up with a hundred and one ways why you shouldn't be feeling jealous, but despite all that it's always the one and only illogical reason you have to be jealous that matters and overpowers all the other reasons. Sometimes there doesn't even need to be a reason, you're just jealous.

Uncontrolled, the feelings of illogicality and irrationality manifest themselves as paranoia, where every slight action by anyone is perceived as a threat and may cause the loss of the object the person holds dear.

Hand in hand with paranoia, comes distrust of everyone, including close acquaintances, causing a breakdown in relations and conflict to set in.

But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;
They are not ever jealous for the cause;
But jealous for they are jealous;
'tis a monster;
Begot upon itself, born on itself

~ Emilia, William Shakespeare's Othello