Sandra Hubbard

Over morning coffee you quietly scroll social media. A few minutes in and your mood shifts.

Nothing bad. But not easily defined. Until it dawns on you.

You experience what I call “covert covetousness.”

Unintentional yet undeniable. Subtle but undeniable. Or maybe you don’t. But I have.

We “like” the photo of our co-worker celebrating her promotion.

And for our friend lounging beachside sporting a lighter, fit body.

And we’re genuinely happy for her.

But then if we feel it. A slight twinge of envy. Followed by coveting.

Then comes fear. Will we get to experience that too?

Coveting is more common than ever. Facebook gives us front row seats to people’s lives.

Coveting creates questions. Of our value, worth and ability.

I hate admitting to breaking a commandment. But denying it just keeps me in it. Admission invites restoration.

So after the confession of breaking this commandment comes the exploration. Why did I covet? I dig deeper.

I know her success doesn’t mean my failure.

Then I see the answer.

It’s easier to covet her life than cultivate the discipline to create a vision of my own and execute it elegantly and intentionally.

It’s easier to feel envy over her life experiences than make efforts to enjoy my own.

I can choose to be envious of her success or inspired to create my own.

As long as we are on social media, opportunities to covertly covet will come.

We can allow envy to eat away at our peace.

Or be our encouragement and a powerful tool to use in our own transformation.

Sandra