Cheering for your friends as you cope with setbacks can be challenging. The feelings of envy and rejection can make it hard to fully be present in our friendships and support each other. But know that envy isn’t a “bad” emotion. Envy makes you human.

• The first step is to acknowledge your envy and label your feelings. Identifying your emotions will help you replace your negative self-talk with a more realistic assessment of your feelings (and the situation).
• Ask yourself what about your setback hurts you the most. This self-reflection may help you understand what really matters to you and inform your next steps.
• Once you identify your needs, look for other healthy and meaningful ways to pursue them.
• Finally, try to feel inspired by your friends’ successes, look for ways to learn from each other, and strengthen your relationship.