Jealousy is usually very easy to spot. You just notice the weird vibe someone is giving off and know when someone is jealous of you.
But sometimes, it can be a bit difficult to spot especially when someone is hiding their envy behind a friendly mask. They might portray themselves as well-wishers but internally they feel more content to see you fall than to see you rise.
Sometimes friends let the green-eyed monster get the better of them. In that case, it becomes important to spot the hidden emotions of jealousy so that you can protect yourself from their negative influence.
Here are 5 major signs of jealous and insecure people:
1. They indirectly cut you off & change the topic
One of the very subtle signs of jealousy is to cut people off when they try to talk about their achievements and success, or just plainly ignore what is being said and move on with another topic of conversation.
Since listening about other’s success reminds them of their own weaknesses or failures, it produces inner discomfort to the point that the can’t bear to even listen to the other person.
Instead of being happy and curious about the other person’s success, their thoughts are directed towards their own shortcomings.
2. Show fake appreciation
Some people are good at hiding their emotions. They might apparently show appreciation and excitement, but you can see that something is off with them.
Their expressions don’t seem genuine and their words don’t match their body language. They might show fake appreciation in a gathering where other people are congratulating you for your achievements because they don’t want to be the odd one out.
3. Talk behind your back
As soon as you leave the gathering, the one who showed fake appreciation in front of you, starts to talk behind your back and discuss your flaws and weaknesses with other people. You only get to know this later on through someone who heard their gossip about you.
As a precaution, if you find someone who always talks behind people’s back, but when they are in the presence of those same people, they portray themselves as well-wishers and act “nice” and “sweet”, then keep a distance from them.
4. Say subtle passive-aggressive & toxic comments
Since jealous people can’t show their inner animosity and jealousy directly, they often resort to passing indirect, passive-aggressive comments while having a smile on their face.
Indirectly expressing their emotions in such toxic ways can temporarily act as a catharsis for them. Since they are bottling up so much negativity within themselves, they have to let it out somehow.
5. Boast about their own achievements & successes
If someone always starts boasting about their own successes and worth whenever they hear about other people’s achievements, they probably have personal insecurities about their worth and value.
Upon hearing about other people’s qualities and success, they subconsciously feel as if their own worth is being threatened by someone who could be better than them.
In their minds, they must always remain on top and be better than most people to be able to feel good about themselves and be satisfied with their worth.
