Your friends don’t want the best version of you, they want the version of you that best serves them.

The biggest lie people around you will tell you is that they’re happy to see you succeed. 

No matter how big or small your success is, it’s never enough to make some people unhappy.

Yes, I’m sorry, but most people are not happy to see you succeed.

So be careful with whom you share both good news and bad news with.

Before sharing anything with anyone, consider who deep down wants to see you succeed and who wants to see you fail.

Some people whom you consider friends are masters at concealing their true feelings of envy, resentment, or inadequacy.

These people might smile and offer words of congratulations when you succeed, but behind their facade lies a different story.

They don’t like it when you’re better than them.

You remind them of their lack of success.

It’s silly, but most people tend to find satisfaction from seeing others in a worse situation because it makes them feel that they aren’t doing so bad for themselves.

We live in a hyper competitive world where people often tend to find a sense of relief when they’re not constantly reminded how far behind they are.

Of course, there will be a few people in your life who’ll do a victory dance with you, but let’s be real, it won’t be most of your friends.

Most of your friends will loathe you for achieving a level of success they haven’t attained.

They’ll hate you for reaching a level of success they haven’t hit yet.

And they’ll be secretly seething with resentment when they notice your success surpassing theirs.

Your financial prosperity will trigger their envy and ill will.

Your exceptional talent or skill will make them feel like they’re coming up short, especially when they’re struggling in the same field.

They want you to fail, so they can feel good about themselves.

But don’t lose your sleep over it.

It doesn’t matter what they think, say, or do.

Those who are unhappy will always find ways to tear you down.

Now that you’re aware of the reality around you, it’s time to be empathetic and understanding towards such people.

Because even they don’t realize why they’re feeling what they’re feeling.

They won’t get it.

And it’s absolutely not their fault.

Don’t hold it against them because they consider themselves to be your good friends, and they kinda feel guilty for feeling the way they do.

They understand that they should be happy for you, and the fact is there’s a tiny part of them that’s kinda happy, but they also sort of hate you for being able to do what they haven’t quite managed yet.

So just keep doing your thing and stop giving a fuck about such people because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.