Entitlement is an unconscious attitude that sets people up for unhappiness.
That is because once something goes “wrong” it causes us to feel victimized rather than simply curious.
What would happen if the next time someone cut in front of you in line you got curious instead of outraged? You might find out they didn’t know where the line started. Or perhaps they’d behave rudely in response to your inquiry. In which case you could opt to wonder: Why are they so miserable?
If you let go of entitlement in this instance, what you would not do is make it about you.
You would not feel degraded by the other person’s behaviour. Feeling degraded just lowers your vitality.
Jealousy is all about entitlement. Being jealous of someone elses success is a good example of this. It’s a case of mistaken identity. You’re entitled to create YOUR success, you are not entitled to theirs, even if it looks like what you want.
Feeling entitled to what someone else has is not the same as being inspired to go after it.
In fact, feeling entitled to what someone else has as in “it’s not fair; I’m more talented!” is a great way to derail your own pursuit of recognition and success.
Yes, some people have competetive advantages over you such as connections you don’t know about, or they’re a safer choice due to their race or gender. You may be correct in assessing that they aren’t deserving of an opportunity, but that doen’t mean you, or anyone else is more entitled to it.
You could make a case for deserving, but not entitled. Words matter.
Once you let go of entitlement, you are free to go after the one thing you actually are entitled to: playing full out, showing up as your authentic self, and choosing how you respond to the outcome.
Don’t squander that one true entitlement by fueling your anger and resentment over not having what you think you’re entitled to. It’s bad for your mental health.
Go grab your one true entitlement, everyday. That is the mission only you can fulfill.
