Make sure your friend knows you’re hanging out with others. If your friend asks you to hang out on a Saturday night, note that you’re hanging out with another group. You can also bring up events that your friend missed when your hanging out with mutual friends. In a group, mention an inside joke you guys formed during a movie night your friend missed.
Talk about your accomplishments in a way that makes you look gracious. When you have success, try to talk about it in a way that conveys excitement. For example, you can try something like, “I can’t believe I got an A on that test. I’m so happy and grateful my Mom helped me study. " Be a little self-depreciating. You can brag about your achievements while simultaneously downplaying them, allowing you to show off without being too overt. Say you got an internship. You can text something like, “So tired. I just spent all day doing the work the real employees don’t want to do. " This acknowledges your internship without succumbing to outright bragging.
Post things from vacations and outings. If you had your nails done, for example, post a before/after picture. Update others on your successes via social media. If you got a new job, for example, post about it. If you did great on a test, let others know on Facebook or Twitter. If you’re going out with other friends, post pictures and updates. If your friend sees them, he or she may get jealous.
Focus on what you want. If you want to improve your grades, for example, work on studying more, completing homework quickly, and asking questions in class. Pursue your outside interests as well. If you’re interested in art, for example, join a drawing class and practice drawing in your free time.
If you have a new dress or outfit that you know your friend will admire, wear it to school or to a social event where you’ll see your friend. If you have a new device, like a new phone or iPod, you can show it to your friend. Try not to come off as boastful, but simply say something like, “Check this out. I just got it. " You can find subtle ways to show off new technology. For example, say you got a new camera. You can say you want to take some pictures with your friend. Avoid being cruel, however. If there’s something your friends wants but can’t have, it may be best to avoid bragging about this. For example, say your friend’s parents don’t make a lot of money and, therefore, he or she can’t afford new school clothes. It may be a bad idea to show off your new outfit.
Having a good attitude can also cause others to look up to you. If your friend sees you’re admired by a lot of people, he or she may feel jealous. [4] X Research source
If you tend to get jealous yourself, you may be an insecure person by nature. Therefore, you may try to make others jealous to raise your own self-esteem. You might not have had strong attachments early in life, fueling insecurity and jealousy. If you do find yourself feeling jealous of your friend, look for ways to put that envy into action. For instance, you could create a goal for yourself that allows you to fill up that insecurity or void without tapping into your envy. Are you angry at your friend? If your friend did something to hurt your feelings or make you insecure, you may be trying to make him or her jealous as payback. While this can feel good in the short term, it’s a good idea to eventually talk it out. Communication is important to a successful relationship.
Choose a specific time and place to talk. Pick a time where neither of you are busy, and a place free of external distractions. For example, you can meet on a Saturday afternoon at a large coffee shop that’s usually not crowded. Think about what you want to say ahead of time. Have some idea of the issues that are bothering you. It may help to write down your thoughts to try and sort them out.
For example, say you were trying to make your friend jealous because she keeps bragging about her boyfriend. Don’t say, “It’s irritating that you always talk about your boyfriend when we hang out. It’s like I’m not important to you. " Rephrase the above sentiment using an “I”-statement. Say, “I feel irritated when you talk about your boyfriend when we hang out because it makes me feel like you don’t value the time you spend with me. "
You could both agree not to bring up specifics about certain subjects. If you struggle with your weight, for example, you could ask your friend not share details with you about her exercise regimen. Apologize. If you were intentionally making your friend jealous, this can be very hurtful. After admitting to trying to spur jealous, offer your friend a sincere apology. This will help the two of you move on.
