A word that describes a positive form of envy [duplicate]
You can aspire to be like them. Rather than a feeling of envy, you have a feeling of aspiration.
aspire
verb
to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, especially for something great or of high value (usually followed by to, after, or an infinitive):
to aspire after literary immortality; to aspire to be a doctor.
[dictionary.com]
Long for, perhaps? (According to "thefreedictionary.com")
to desire or pine for someone or something.
crave
verb
- Feel a powerful desire for (something)
'if only she had shown her daughter the love she craved'