Motivation or Envy
The things in an average Nigerian students room is pretty simple, a bed, a table and a chair then the rest is just books and more books. Now if you happen to have things like a sound system, television and all of those other appliances, then you may as well be considered as someone living the life above an average Nigerian student.
This is what most Nigerian students want, unfortunately not all of them are able to avoid it. For those who can, it's mostly either they've got rich parents (or siblings or other relatives) or they happen to be among a huge number of students who work while schooling.
Now having these things at your hostel can feel very nice because it makes you feel more comfortable and also gives your hostel a little sense of home. But for those who can't afford it, some of them try to not look at that life and for those who can't look away, they either begin to envy or just use you as a form of motivation for themselves to work hard and hopefully afford that kind of life.
Unfortunately, in a bid to try to get the same thing as the other person, most students end up doing some crazy stuff like internet fraud and prostitution just to afford those things.
But all that isn't even the point of today's post. I once made a post here about a friend who sort of was envying someone else because that person had bought a television and he wanted to sell his laptop just so that he could afford his own television.
Something exactly like that is repeating itself and I just feel like I have to ask if this is just envy or motivation. Someone in the hostel had recently bought his own television along with some other stuff like cable and things like that and I had overheard someone else, talking about how he also would try his best to get those things too because he doesn't want to be left out.
To be honest, I really don't think he's being envious but the truth is that he probably wouldn't be thinking of getting a television for himself if this other guy had not gotten one, so is he being envious or is he just using the other guy as a means of motivation in other to get his.
Also, I really should point it out that our hostel is built in a way where the person living opposite you could literally see inside your room if your door is opened, so basically the moment you open your door to go do something, anyone standing there would most likely see some of the appliances you have in your room and if your room looks so good, it would be hard not to look and maybe want something like it (even though I know that isn't an excuse to be envious). So please tell me what you guys think, envy or motivation?
It all boils down to what you want and WHY you want it. I live with a copycat, someone who will buy what his son has, even though he cannot afford it, but wants it because his son can afford it. Other people end up paying for it, whether it be his wife, or, he will talk his son into getting him one, too. This is an acquisition based on Envy. On the other hand, if a person sees what another person has and makes financial decisions that take what they already have, or, builds what they need to acquire it through business endeavors to get this item, then that is Motivation.
Hmmm.. If I understand you clearly, then the guys I'm talking about are clearly just being envious of the other person because they clearly don't need this things, they only want it because the other person has it.
That is the basis of Envy, a desire for what someone else has, normally, without need or ability to get it yourself. You simply want it, because someone else has it and you do not. An envious person may even feel disadvantaged by the other person having the object and them not having it, or, resentment towards the other person over the object.
This does not mean that the person cannot overcome their sense of envy, develop a logical and legitimate way they could utilize it for themselves and make goals to get one for themselves, without committing crimes or taking shortcuts to get it. If they brag too much after getting it. That also stems from envy and the need to compete over who owns what.
Well, it happens like that
If you are the only one without that thing amongst your friends, you may feel left out. We may see him that he's someone unserious because he's feeling left out because of TV but I know how that feeling can be
That's also true.. The need to one to feel among.
It's human nature to want what other people have. So, it's doesn't necessarily have to be motivation or envy.
Where it goes wrong is when you can't afford the said thing and you have to resort to bad means to get them. It takes away your peace of mind. And your mental health will be threatened.
It's better to be happy for others and take positive steps to gain those things than to use envy,the later will end in tears.
This, this is what most people don't understand and it's where they always get it wrong.
I feel itself foolish act. Selling laptop for buying television is not logical in my opinion.
So I don't feel he is doing it for motivation.
Yup.. I agree with you.