Jealousy is a human experience. Whether we were the ones receiving it or the ones feeling it, we've all had our fair share of jealous feelings and behaviors. Despite the commonality of this emotion, jealousy could bring on challenges and issues in a romantic relationship that, when aggravated, could create distrust and eventually end the relationship. Couples need to take the necessary steps to overcome jealousy and cultivate a relationship that is connected, open, and loving.

Today, I share my thoughts on jealousy, its causes, and its effects. I explain how jealousy can force our partners to put up boundaries or even commit actions that foster distrust. I reveal how insecurities and low self-esteem can cultivate our tendency to be jealous and share some evolutionary perspectives on why we feel jealous. I share my personal experiences with jealousy and highlight the steps we can take to overcome these feelings. I also answer a listener's question about how to move forward in a relationship without bringing emotional baggage, why couples need to focus on their willingness to examine and work through emotional hurts and difficulties, as well as highlight the importance of celebrating successes in overcoming emotional baggage.

"No matter how jealous we feel, we need to find a way to come back to ourselves. Know that no matter how strong these feelings are, they will come and pass." - Pripo Teplitsky

This week on Relationships! Let's Talk About It:

• The detrimental impact of jealousy on our relationships and how they push our partners to put up boundaries
• The definition of jealousy and how it's different from envy
• Common evolutionary explanations of jealousy
• The biggest driver and causes of jealousy
• How working on your sense of self can help soothe feelings of jealousy
• How open and honest communication can help couples overcome jealousy
• Why paranoid and obsessive tendencies can trap a person into jealousy
• How jealousy can make us block our partners
• Using humor and light-hearted conversations to address feelings of jealousy and anxiety
• How our inner critic perpetuates destructive thoughts and feelings
• Dealing with jealousy through acceptance and self-compassion

Listener Questions - Let's Talk About It:

• How do you move forward in a new relationship without bringing emotional baggage?

Related Content:

• Emotional Infidelity: Is It Really Cheating?
• Transforming the Inner Critic
• The Art of Apology

Let's Talk About It!

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Theme music "These Streets" provided by Adi the Monk