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Introduction
Welcome back to the weekly newsletter.
We all compare. It sneaks in fast: a post, a promotion, a launch. And suddenly your win feels small. Your career and life shrink when we compare them to others’ highlight reels. This week we build a simple “gauge.” It catches envy in the moment and flips it into fuel. Clean steps that can bring strong results.
Weekly highlight: Track moments you feel envy; replace each with a gratitude to reset mindset.
Envy bends our values, sometimes leading to crossing the lines. Gratitude straightens them. When you track envy and answer it with gratitude, you reset your mind and protect your standards. The “Gratitude vs. Greed Gauge” is a tiny tool with a big effect: spot the spike, name the pull, and choose the higher road. Do it daily. You’ll feel calmer, clearer, and more in charge.
Why Envy Undercuts Integrity
Envy says, “Me first.” Integrity says, “Do what’s right.” When envy wins, shortcuts look okay. You rush work. You copy style, without any substance. Everything feels so behind everyone else. You seek praise over progress. The cost is trust: yours and others’. Catching envy early keeps you aligned with your code.
The Gauge: What It Is
The gauge is a quick log. One line, right when the feeling hits. “What did I see?” “What did I feel?” “What do I already have?” That’s it. The act of writing slows the spiral. It moves you from reaction to reflection. From heat of the moment to growth.
Flip Mechanic: Envy → Gratitude
You feel the envy. Pause. Write one thing you’re thankful for tied to the same theme. Their raise? Note your position you worked for years to get. Their pace? Note your growth over the last months. You are not denying desire. You are grounding it in reality. Gratitude cools the heat so you can choose a better next move.
Protect Your Environment
Envy feeds on noise. Trim sources that spike it. Unfollow bait accounts. Mute brag threads. Keep inputs that teach, not tease. Set short windows for social. Keep your work zone clean and your day simple. Less clutter, less comparison.
Measure What Matters (to You)
Envy borrows other people’s scoreboards. Return to yours. Define honest metrics that match your life. Quality of work. Health stability. Time with family. When your eyes land on your own marks, you stop chasing someone else’s game. We often get lost chasing what is not our priority.
When Envy Is Useful
Sometimes envy points at a real gap. Use it. Ask, “What skill is missing here?” Turn it into a plan you can own. One course. One practice set. One reach-out. Not ten things: one. Always focus.
Team & Relationships
Comparison strains trust at work and home. Share the gauge idea with your team in a light way. Catch your team doing it. Model it before you teach it. Praise effort and ethics, not just wins. Understand your team’s personal priorities. People mirror what leaders celebrate.
Results You’ll Notice
Less rush. Cleaner choices. Clearer mood. You’ll do the right thing faster because the noise is lower. Energy returns to the work, not the scroll. And respect grows: first self-respect, then what others offer back.
Application
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Set Up the Gauge: Keep a tiny note on phone or card with three prompts: Saw / Felt / Grateful for.
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Use It Live: Each time you feel an envy, add one line. 20 seconds max.
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Trim Triggers: Remove one noisy input today (mute, unfollow, or time-box).
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Choose One True Gap: Pick a single skill envy pointed to and start the smallest practice you can keep.
Summary
Envy pulls you off-mission. Gratitude puts you back. The gauge makes the switch fast and visible. Note the feeling, name the thanks, act with integrity. Do it for a week. Watch how your pressure drops and enables you to focus more.
Till next time,
Maciej
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