Sometimes people around us, whom we have known for years, may appear supportive and loving but might wish us failure or harm.
There are subtle signs these people will show, and it is up to you to be more careful if you suspect them.
Here are some of the most prominent signs your friends or family might be working against you.
1. Their Compliments Always Feel Backhanded
When someone secretly wants to hurt you, their compliments don’t feel real. They might smile and say something pleasant, but it doesn’t feel genuine, and it hurts you in a way that makes you doubt yourself later.
You don’t feel better; instead, you walk away thinking about the comments and wondering whether they were meant to hurt you. These backhanded comments are meant to make you feel insecure without you knowing exactly why.
These praises don’t feel like encouragement; they feel like insults packed in a nice package. If compliments make you feel small instead of big, it’s not love; it’s envy disguised as kindness.
2. They Celebrate Quietly When You Struggle
Pay close attention to how someone acts when you are going through hard times. A true friend will be there for you with love, even if they don’t know what to say. But someone who is secretly angry will show small signs of contentment when you are sad.
Their silence might seem too comfortable, and their tiny smile might be too out of place. They don’t help; they just stand by and watch, looking somehow happy.
They might even say things that sound helpful but don’t really care. If someone feels better when you feel bad, it’s a good clue that their energy isn’t good for you.
3. They Copy You but Never Celebrate You
Sometimes copying someone else can be a compliment, but only if the goal is to honor them and not steal from them.
Someone who secretly envies you will replicate your manner, language, or even your ideas, but they won’t give you credit for them. They act like they were born with your uniqueness instead.
This behavior gets tiring over time, as if they’re taking parts of your identity to promote themselves. The most telling thing isn’t the copying itself, but the fact that they do not mention you (no thanks, no credit, no acknowledgment).
If someone always copies you but never praises you, they are jealous of you.
4. They Avoid Eye Contact When You Succeed
Pay close attention when nice things happen to you. People who love you will be happy with you, and frequently more than you think. But a jealous person will avoid eye contact, move around uncomfortably, or hastily change the subject.
They may even seem happy for you, but their eyes tell a different story. Their energy makes the room heavy, especially where celebration should be felt. They may even make subtle comments that belittle your success.
Not being happy is just as telling as being negative. If they seem unhappy after you win, that’s a sign of how they really feel. Love usually shines, but jealousy hides behind avoidant eyes.
5. They Gossip About You in Disguise
Gossip that is disguised as “concern” is one of the clearest signals that someone doesn’t want you to achieve well. They might talk about you in a casual or even sympathetic tone, yet their remarks slowly destroy your reputation.
The damage is small, and it is spread through lies and chattering. They might say they’re “just sharing” or “protecting you,” but really, they’re making other people distrust what you say.
When you’re not around, true friends safeguard your name; enemies discreetly tear it down. If you hear someone talking about you in a way that makes you look bad, be warned.
6. They Offer Help That Feels Like Sabotage
Not all harm is visible; sometimes it comes in the form of kindness. Someone who secretly envies you might give you counsel, instruction, or even help with their own hands, but it always somehow makes matters worse.
Their “help” causes delays, uncertainty, or even failures. At first, it seems like terrible luck, but you start to recognize the pattern: you always go backward when they are involved. Real aid makes you stronger, whereas fake help makes you weaker.
It’s a good clue that someone doesn’t have good intentions if you leave with their advice or help feeling stuck instead of supported.
7. Your Intuition Feels Uneasy Around Them
Perhaps the strongest sign of all is the one you can’t explain. When you’re among some people, your body feels restless, your spirit feels heavy, and your vitality feels low.
You might think it’s paranoia, but your gut feeling is usually right. The universe talks through your gut, providing messages long before your head sees confirmation. If you feel unsafe or uneasy around someone for no evident reason, pay attention.
Energy doesn’t hide; it shows itself in how you feel. The best way to protect yourself is to trust your gut, since your soul knows when something is wrong even when your eyes can’t see it.
Born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ever since I was a little girl, my imagination knew no bounds. I remember vividly how I’d scribble down short stories, each page bursting with adventures and characters conjured up from the whimsy of my mind. These stories weren’t just for me; they were my way of connecting with my friends, offering them a slice of my fantasy world during our playtimes. The joy and excitement on their faces as we dived into my fictional realms motivated me to keep writing. This early passion for storytelling naturally evolved into my pursuit of writing, turning a childhood hobby into a fulfilling career.