hasunoha

Jealousy of people who can do things I can't

Recently, I sometimes feel “jealous of people who can do things I can't do.”

For example, it's about pianos.
When I was a kid, I told my parents that I wanted to learn piano, but for financial reasons, I had no choice but to give up.
Therefore, until I became an adult, I always organized “pianos are things I couldn't help but do.”

However, even though one of my peers couldn't learn piano when he was a child for the same reason, I learned that he started attending lessons on his own after becoming a member of society.
At that time, I realized, “The reason I can't play the piano is not just my old environment, but maybe it's just that I didn't have enough enthusiasm myself,” and a fuzzy feeling began to spring up.

However, I don't have the enthusiasm to spend my money and time now devoting myself to the piano. The main reason is that I'm currently speaking English and going to the gym, and I don't have time to increase my lessons, but I think even that is an excuse for myself.
If it's about once every 2 weeks, I think I'll be able to go there somehow, so if I really want to play the piano, I should be able to go there.

When I see people doing things I couldn't do to make them come true, I inevitably feel jealous and inferior.
I would be happy if you could give me some advice on how to deal with this feeling.

5 Zen Responses

Everyone has worries

In Buddhism, we believe that worry causes worry, suffering, and stress.
Jealousy is probably a form of affliction.
Everyone has that kind of trouble.
People who have realized the truth of impermanence, suffering, and selflessness, called Buddha or Arahan, will lose their worries, but it is normal for those of us who have not realized them to have worries.
So, first let's forgive them by accepting our own reality of being jealous as “I can't help it because I haven't realized it.”
Also, there are ways to reduce the worries, suffering, and stress of everyday life, even for people who are unaware.
It's about quickly stopping delusional distractions that induce jealousy, and not falling into an imposing circle of thoughts amidst the same information.
For example, try meditating or nembutsu.
Until a few seconds ago, even if consciousness was dominated by the past, future, and delusional thoughts about oneself and others, if you concentrate your consciousness on meditation or nembutsu, it becomes a stop switch for delusional distractions.
It's fine to hum a song or go jogging.
Just like if you have a runny nose, you can blow your nose; if you get jealous, you can just meditate, etc.
The mind is impermanent, and thoughts and feelings come and disappear from moment to moment, so be aware that jealousy is also an impermanent thing that can always be interrupted or stopped.
If your face is dirty, you can wash it. Even if your mind gets dirty, you should clean (switch) it each time.

Please follow the path you aspire to

I read it.
I read that you are very worried about what you couldn't do.
Well, if you know that you can do things you've given up until now with your own enthusiasm, you'll wonder why you haven't made an effort until now. I don't know the details about you, but I understand your feelings from the bottom of my heart.

If you've noticed that, why don't you actively approach what you want to learn and learn little by little from now on and learn to the extent you can?
Recently, it has become possible to learn and learn a lot online.
Try learning from various people using various methods and tools.
It depends on what you learn, but there are also things you can learn from now on and even become a professional in that field.
Also, recently, I think it's possible to learn and learn various techniques while watching on YouTube.
Ino Tadataka stopped his business after he was 60 years old and went on to the field of surveying.

I came up with the idea, but it's a good day.

I sincerely pray that you will be able to live your life sincerely, richly and fully from now on, so that you will be able to live your life sincerely, richly, and fully from now on, so that you will be able to face the path you aspire to and learn without feeling inferior.
And I will support you from the bottom of my heart.

Please do your best!

If you continue to have the feeling of “wanting to do it,” let's make it happen by ourselves.

While there are people who are accomplishing what you couldn't do, there are also cases where you are accomplishing what someone else couldn't do. Gym for English conversation.

“I want to do it” is just that I was able to get my parents to fulfill it in my childhood home environment, and if I still have the feeling of “wanting to do it,” it is possible to move to fulfill it yourself.

Under the same conditions, if there is someone reaching out first, a feeling of (nice ~ envious ~ frustrating ~) will be born, but that person has probably prepared to make “what they want to do” come true.
You are working on English conversation and the gym first.

The jealousy I feel right now is temporary. If you still have a feeling of “wanting to do it” to the point where you are jealous, why not take action as an opportunity comes your way.

Incidentally, I was also learning, and I still play the piano, but as my level increases, daily practice becomes important, so I think I need an environment where I have a piano at home.
I hope it will come true someday.
Any form of entertainment costs money, doesn't it?

That jealousy isn't a flaw, it's the true nature of the wish that lies within you

First, your jealousy is a very natural and beautiful response.
This is because it is proof that there is an “afterimage of a wish” within you that hasn't disappeared yet.

Things I had to give up when I was a kid
It's a slightly painful area for everyone.
And the moment someone in a situation similar to my own made it come true,
“Oh... maybe I could have done that too?”
It is natural for such tremors to occur.

What is important here is
Jealousy = no material to blame yourself
That's it.

Rather, jealousy is
It's a compass that indicates “where in your life you need mental nourishment.”

So how should we deal with it?

① First, don't deny your “jealous self”
Jealousy is not weakness.
It's an emotion felt only by people who have had wishes.
All you have to do is accept it quietly, saying, “Well, I have regrets about the piano.”

② More than the piano itself, “What are you longing for?” Staring at
・The joy of playing sound?
・Continued pride in yourself?
・The feeling of a life where you're doing what you wanted to do?
The piano is a symbol, and your wishes lie deeper.

③ If you want to act, the smallest unit is fine
It's natural to feel unenthusiastic.
Adults distribute their energy in their daily lives.
So what is important is “lightness.”
Even if it's a trial lesson once every 2 weeks, it's enough to just spend 5 minutes at home.

You don't have to do it.
But you can try it.
It's not “learn to play the piano or not”
[Whether or not you can handle your own wishes with care] is essential.

Jealousy is the gateway to your potential.
Please hold them softly instead of blaming them.

Gassho

For those who want to be able to play the piano

If you want to be able to play the piano, get one first. Electronic pianos are cheap and don't require tuning, and recently there are those with built-in expensive sounds. Of course, if you have an upright or grand piano, use it.
Next, find the song you want to draw and get the score for that song. You can also buy sheet music online, so you can buy an easy one and print it out, or save it on your smartphone or computer. Then, practice playing the melody of that song with your right hand. Continue practicing for 30 to 45 minutes a day for 1 to 3 months. Once you've managed to play the melody, the next step is to start practicing playing the accompaniment with your left hand. You'll need at least a month before you hear the accompaniment. Once you can play the accompaniment a little, start practicing playing the right hand melody and the left hand accompaniment with both hands. Then, we move on to bar 1 and bar 2. As you gradually enjoy playing the piano, ask someone to listen to it.
Once I know what I can play well and what I can't play well, I will practice so that I can play it well. Here, you can see what your strengths and weaknesses are.
If you enjoy playing music by facing yourself, please continue playing the piano. You'll be able to play the piano without attending a classroom or teacher.
Advice from a music education researcher. I hope it helps.