Football game

With the 2025 Super Bowl featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, conversations about the game have extended beyond team loyalties and strategy. Fans are engaging in familiar rhetoric: “I want the Eagles to win because I’m tired of the Chiefs always making it this far!” While this may seem like a simple sports sentiment, it reveals a deeper psychological pattern that also manifests in the workplace—our relationship with success, competition, and burnout.

In a culture that celebrates achievement, yet often resents those who repeatedly succeed, what does this contradiction say about us? And how does this dynamic play out in our professional lives, especially in environments where burnout is rampant?

The Psychology of Envy and Workplace Burnout

Even in our personal and professional lives, we encounter similar emotions. When a colleague receives a promotion, a friend buys a new house, or someone’s career accelerates while we feel stuck, how do we react? Are we genuinely happy for them, or does envy creep in?

At its core, envy is an emotional trigger, pointing out something within us that we may be reluctant to acknowledge. If left unchecked, this mindset can contribute to burnout—constantly pushing ourselves to “win” rather than focusing on sustainable, fulfilling success. Understanding these emotional triggers can help us navigate career aspirations without succumbing to resentment and exhaustion.

The Difference Between Jealousy and Envy

Before diving deeper, it’s important to distinguish between jealousy and envy. Jealousy involves three people—someone feeling threatened by another who could disrupt their existing relationship or status. This could be a new high-performing hire at work making us feel replaceable, or a close colleague forming a tighter bond with leadership, leaving us feeling sidelined.

Envy, on the other hand, is a two-person dynamic. It arises when we see someone else succeed in a way we wish we could. A coworker getting recognized for their hard work may trigger a sense of unfairness, making us question why we weren’t acknowledged instead.

Both emotions stem from an internal perception of lack, but when left unexamined, they can lead to stress, disengagement, and ultimately burnout.

Overcoming Jealousy in the Workplace

The key to managing jealousy is recognizing that it is not about the other person—it is about our own fears and insecurities.

  1. Acknowledge the Feeling: The first step is to admit when jealousy arises. Rather than suppressing it, recognize it as a sign that something deeper needs attention.
  2. Identify the Root Fear: Are you worried about job security? Feeling undervalued? Concerned that you are not evolving in your role? Once identified, you can address the core issue rather than resenting the other person.
  3. Embrace Change: If a high-achieving coworker threatens your status, see it as an opportunity for growth. Could you learn from them? Improve your skills? Engage in mentorship? Instead of resisting change, lean into it.

By reframing jealousy as a tool for self-improvement, you shift from competition to collaboration, reducing workplace stress and fostering a healthier mindset.

Managing Envy to Prevent Burnout

Envy reveals what we perceive as missing in our lives. Rather than letting it consume us, we can use it as a guide for personal and professional growth.

  1. Acknowledge the Trigger: If a coworker’s promotion stings, ask yourself why. Do you feel stagnant? Do you believe your work goes unnoticed? Recognizing the source of your envy helps you take actionable steps.
  2. Reframe the Narrative: Instead of thinking, “Why them and not me?” shift your perspective to, “What can I learn from their success?” Their achievement does not diminish yours—it illuminates what is possible.
  3. Address Scarcity Mindset: Many professionals burn out because they operate from a belief that opportunities are scarce. The reality is, success is not a finite resource. Focusing on your own growth rather than resenting others’ victories will create a healthier work environment.

A Super Bowl Mindset for Career Longevity

Just as some fans resent dominant teams, employees can feel discouraged when others excel repeatedly. But what if we shifted our mindset from burnout-driven competition to sustainable ambition?

Instead of saying, “I want the Eagles to win because I’m tired of the Chiefs,” try, “I want the Eagles to win because I enjoy seeing fresh teams experience success.” In the workplace, rather than resenting a coworker’s promotion, celebrate their achievement and reflect on how you can achieve your own.

When we embrace success—both ours and others’—we foster resilience, mitigate burnout, and create a culture of encouragement. Whether in sports or at work, a mindset shift can turn envy into empowerment and competition into inspiration.

As the Chiefs and Eagles battle it out on the field, let’s take a moment to reflect: Are we merely chasing success, or are we building a career that is both fulfilling and sustainable? The answer may determine not only our happiness at work but also our long-term well-being.

Take the Next Step: Work with Lora Cheadle

If workplace burnout, envy, or career stagnation are holding you back, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Lora Cheadle specializes in helping professionals reclaim their energy, redefine success, and build a fulfilling career without succumbing to burnout.

Book a one-on-one coaching session with Lora today and take the first step toward lasting career resilience and joy. Visit https://calendly.com/loras-schedule/is-it-burnout-or-betrayal  to schedule your complementary session and find out what might be possible for you!

#WorkplaceBurnout
#CareerLongevity
#SuccessMindset
#BurnoutRecovery
#ThrivingNotSurviving
#ProfessionalGrowth
#MindsetShift
#WorkLifeBalance
#SustainableSuccess

#SuperBowl2025
#ChiefsVsEagles
#WinningMindset
#CompeteWithYourself
#FromEnvyToEmpowerment

#CoachingForSuccess
#EmpoweredLiving
#TransformYourCareer
#LoraCheadleCoaching

Picture of Lora Cheadle, Burnout Recovery Expert

Lora Cheadle, Burnout Recovery Expert

Lora Cheadle is a Colorado-based speaker/trainer, attorney, and coach who shows business professionals and their teams how to break free from burnout and find the personal and professional satisfaction they crave. Her 5-step framework to recover from burnout is unique because it allows professionals to uncover and connect to their beliefs and expectations, so they can speak up and advocate effectively for themselves and what brings them internal satisfaction.

Scroll to Top