Your bestie runs up to you in the hallway with a huge smile plastered to her face. “I got the part! I got the lead!” she squeals, jumping around you like a puppy, exuding pure joy.
While she bathes in the glory of her success, your shoulders slump. You wanted the lead. You had been dreaming about it since auditions were announced. It seems like she always gets her way, while you seem to constantly be left behind. Jealously bubbles over and allll the negative emotions take over.
But wait: Before you start spiraling, hit pause.
At some point in your life, you have probably felt this way about your bestie. And we’re here to walk you through how to celebrate your main girl’s wins—and how to focus on creating your own success.
First things first, your feelings are valid. It’s normal to feel upset when you lose the lead in the play. Or jealous that your friend had her first kiss before you. Or sad that your bestie keeps getting the highest score on the weekly Spanish quiz, while you can barely pull a B-.
But your feelings don’t have to diminish her accomplishments. Here’s the thing: True friends should want to see each other succeed and reach their greatest goals.
Think about it: What if *you* had a big win in your life? Imagine snagging your dream internship, scoring the championship goal in soccer or meeting your fave celeb. Would you want your bestie to be mad at you, or would you want her to join in on the excitement?
While it’s hard when a friend earns something amazing (esp. if you wanted the same thing but came out empty-handed), it’s all about shifting your mindset from “I’ll never have that” to “My time will come.”
Sure, maybe your bestie got the lead role in the play this fall, but who knows what could happen for you next semester? Your big break could be just a few months away—and, newsflash, you’re never going to get there if you’re spending all your time worrying about what other people are accomplishing.
So the next time your friend is dishing about an awesome opportunity, remember that her achieving something great doesn’t diminish your worth. Then, celebrate her win with a sweet text or a surprise Starbies.
And instead of getting down in the dumps about how <insert amazing thing here> hasn’t happened to you yet? Pour your energy into achieving your own dreams. Finally opening that Etsy bracelet biz? Filming your first BeautyTok video? Signing up for a dance lesson, perhaps? With some hard work and a little time, we bet your moment will arrive soon, too.
Want more friendship advice? Check these articles out:
👭How to hold onto to friendships through different phases of life
👭How to talk to your friends when they hurt your feelings
👭Having a bad day? Here’s how to deal
Slider image: @goodmeredith
Top image: @goodmeredith
Body images: @laurenlicup, @jennibrhodes
