Emily
Danforth, the author of The Miseducation
of Cameron Post, made a humorous mention at a recent writer's workshop of
the veiled or not so veiled envy among writing friends about each other's
"success" or lack thereof. I couldn't help but laugh about the true
chord she had struck.
If
we as writers, artists or simply human beings have not experienced envy—I wonder
whether we have been attentive to our inner voices and tumultuous feelings
regarding the often challenging path of creating and attempting to share our
creations. Envy is that emotion that bubbles up when a person wants or desires
what another has; seeing another's achievement, recognition or success and
wondering, "Why not me?"
The
world and work of writers and artists is ready soil to allow envy to spring up.
How does one judge the quality or value of a written piece or artistic
endeavor? We all like different types of writing, different types of art. How
do you determine the worth of something? Does its price reflect value, the
quantity sold or actually getting published, or are these just measuring stones
based on what a few people like, what the gatekeepers want or what popular
opinion is—made popular by whom?
Shakespeare,
in The Merchant of Venice, mentions
"green-eyed jealousy." Jealousy and envy are often used
interchangeably, each associated with the color green. In past history, green
complexion, such as when one is pale and sickly was associated with fear, ill
humor and illness. Envy can at times cause emotional pain, lack of self-worth
and lower self-esteem. Some have described two types of envy; malicious and
benign. Benign envy has been proposed to be a positive motivational force. An
envious person can become unhappy or as Bertrand Russell suggested, envy can be
used as a driving force to create a more just social system.
An
interesting, related topic is a study about gender norms and modesty which inhibits
women from promoting themselves or their accomplishments. A published study
noted in a recent issue of the Bozone newspaper (Feb. 1, 2014, Vol. 21, No. 3) by
Jessi L. Smith, professor of psychology at Montana State University and Meghan
Huntoon, MSU student, looked at cultural norms regarding women promoting their
own accomplishments and the discomfort they experience in expressing their
abilities.
"Society
disapproves of women who are perceived to be bragging about themselves,"
Smith states. Conversely men who brag about their accomplishments are perceived
as confident and capable. The study authors suggest that people in authority
positions need to create environments that enable women to promote their
talents as a normal action. Since cultural shifts take time, Smith suggests
that meanwhile people should emphasize the abilities of their female friends
and colleagues to other individuals or groups.
Unfortunately,
women who speak about their abilities are seen as arrogant and domineering and
men are seen as confident and experienced. Is this a hidden barrier to sharing
our artistic potential?
Our
choice, even when we experience the twangs of envy, is to follow our art, our
craft, our passion - giving it our best, growing and learning to be better at
what we choose to do, and also encouraging others on their path, with their
successes, striving to help create a more just and favorable climate to
recognize the talents of a variety of people. Greater freedom can be created
when we have an eye to the inequitable norms and expectations we put on women
and develop avenues to support the wellspring of each other's gifts.
We
are always left with the old meditative wisdom; feel it, recognize it, name it,
let it be, and not react based on our feelings, neither physical nor mental,
but still act. In this we become one with wu
wei, the non-doing action of the Tao itself, the source of all good.
