Even though jealousy evokes negative connotations, it can definitely lead to positive outcomes. First and foremost, envy is a natural human emotion! Don't berate yourself for feeling it. Second, jealousy can be healthy, as long as it's dealt with in a thoughtful way.

Why is being jealous a good thing?

“Jealousy can help focus your goals,” says Dr. Michelle Foster, a clinical psychologist and co-director of the Toronto Psychology & Wellness Group. “If you're jealous of a colleague, for instance, it can help you understand that they have something you desire and it's something that you can work towards.

Is there such thing as healthy jealousy?

“A little bit of jealousy in a healthy relationship is fine,” says biological anthropologist Helen Fisher, Ph. D., author of “Why We Love.” “It's going to wake you up. ... It might be tempting to think that someone is more interested in you, or cares for you more, because they express more jealousy or possessive behavior.