Success Is Supposed to Be Inspiring… So Why Does Everyone Avoid Me?
➡️ My Friends Are Tired, and I Don’t Know Why.
Dear Miss Edna,
I’m starting to think my friends and coworkers are jealous of me. Every time I share my latest success, they don’t seem as excited as they should be. I got a promotion last month, and instead of celebrating, my coworkers barely reacted. I posted about my new car on Instagram, and my best friend didn’t even like the post!
I try to be humble, but I can’t help it if my life is going better than most people’s. I work hard, and if I’ve achieved more, isn’t that a good thing? Why should I have to dim my shine just because others aren’t as successful?
How do I get people to be happy for me instead of acting so distant?
— Clearly Winning, but Alone
Dear Clearly Winning,
Oh sugar. You don’t need advice—you need a mirror and about five minutes of uninterrupted self-reflection.
Let me see if I’ve got this straight: You’re out here writing letters to strangers because your friends didn’t throw a parade over your latest humblebrag? You posted about your car on Instagram and expected applause like you’d just cured the common cold? Sweetheart, I say this with love (and a lot of sarcasm)—you might be insufferable.
Let’s go over a few key points together:
📌 1. No One Owes You a Standing Ovation.
Success is great—but expecting people to cheer for your every win makes you exhausting. People have their own lives, their own struggles, and their own victories. Your coworkers were busy working, not auditioning for a role in “The Clearly Winning Fan Club.”
📌 2. Humble? Sweetheart, You Wouldn’t Recognize Humility If It Sent You a Friend Request.
“I try to be humble, but my life is just better than most people’s.” Oh, do you now? Funny, because from where I’m sitting, you’re less “humble” and more “one unsolicited success story away from getting muted in the group chat.”
📌 3. People Aren’t Jealous—They’re Just Tired.
Let’s be real. Are your friends actually jealous, or are they drained from hearing about your achievements like you’re a one-person press release? Try asking about their lives for once. If they suddenly warm up, then the problem isn’t them—it’s you.
📌 4. Try This Wild, New Concept: Support Goes Both Ways.
When was the last time you celebrated their wins? Did you comment on their job promotions? Ask about their big moments? Or are you too busy waiting for your next round of applause? If friendship feels like a one-way spotlight, don’t be surprised when people walk off the stage.
Final Thoughts:
Your friends don’t hate you. They don’t resent your success. They just need a break from the “Clearly Winning” highlight reel.
So here’s your game plan:
✅ Ask your friends how they’re doing—without making it about you.
✅ Celebrate others before expecting confetti for yourself.
✅ And for the love of all things holy, try keeping one success to yourself, just to see if it’s possible.
Now go forth, share less, and watch your relationships magically improve.
You’re welcome.