Gemotions

"Did you hear about the new manager's salary?" The question, whispered by a colleague, landed like a punch. Mark knew he was being paid less. He felt a sharp pang of envy, followed by a surge of resentment.

He found himself subtly comparing himself to the new manager, a younger woman with an air of effortless confidence. He straightened his tie, smoothed down his shirt, and felt a strange urge to prove himself.

He spoke up more assertively in the team meeting, offering suggestions and opinions that he usually kept to himself. The effort felt forced, and the silence that followed each of his pronouncements seemed to amplify his internal anxiety. His palms started to sweat.