But when it's persistent or frequent, it's a sign that you've lost hope of having something important to you. It can be a wake-up call to act and make choices that can bring you closer to your goals. When you feel envious, begin to pay attention to find clues about what you want. Don't settle for the obvious, superficial motivations, but delve deeper to uncover your true wishes and desires. Startups are risky businesses and demanding task masters.
More immediate pleasures are possible.
For example, while you may not be in a position to travel the world, a weekend getaway might be enjoyable if you haven't had one in a long time. Or, you might not be able to fund a charity, but you can spend a Saturday doing volunteer work that's rewarding. Many clients have been surprised by how gratifying it is to identify what matters to them and then taste the fruits of short-term efforts rather than waiting for a large payoff that may or may not happen. Research has shown that people generally feel good if they're making concrete progress toward their goals, so it's possible to experience high levels of well-being long before you reach the end. The challenge is to identify your most-cherished values and then pursue work that's in accordance with them.