Comparison is the thief of happiness: because comparing yourself to others is destroying your life

Two centuries before the advent of social media, President Roosevelt pronounced this maxim, which demonstrates how influenceable our personal satisfaction is

We live in an era dominated by constant comparison. Social media exposes us, every day, to images of seemingly perfect lives: impeccable homes, sculpted physiques, extraordinary careers, success and abundant money.

Scrolling through Instagram, Facebook or TikTok, it seems like everyone has the life we ​​want, and inevitably we start to feel inadequate.

Our mind is thus projected towards the “neighbor’s grass” that we are incapable of appreciating our garden and the fruits we have already grown.

We forget our qualities, the goals achieved and the potential that distinguish us, blinded by the desire to want to be like others.

Yet, it is essential to remember that everyone, on social media, chooses to show only their best, best, most successful version. No one shares failures, moments of weakness or insecurities: what we see is just the tip of the iceberg.

The distorted reality of social media

The illusion of perfection that social media offers is amplified by the fact that today we can observe not only the lives of our friends and colleagues, but also of thousands of people we don’t know.

This leads us to make comparisons based on incomplete and often distorted information. We scroll through the profiles of celebrities, influencers or strangers who seem to have everything under control, without knowing anything about their journey or the difficulties they faced.

In short, our judgment is based on a partial vision: we only see successes and happy moments, while failures and challenges are carefully hidden. This fuels the false perception that our life, with its imperfections, is somehow inferior to that of others.

But the reality is very different. Everyone has their own battles to fight, and comparing our lives to those of others, without knowing the whole picture, is deeply unfair to ourselves.

Comparison is the thief of joy

“Comparison is the thief of joy” – “Comparison is the thief of happiness” – is a famous phrase attributed to the president of the United States Theodore Roosevelt.

Already two centuries ago, Roosevelt had understood how harmful constant comparison with others could be for our self-esteem and personal satisfaction. And this was long before the advent of social media!

Comparison robs us of the joy of recognizing our successesmaking us incapable of appreciating what we have. When we compare ourselves to others, we focus our attention on what is missing in our lives, rather than what we have built.

In this way, we undermine our self-esteem and personal fulfillment. Constant comparison makes us feel perpetually inadequate, because there is always someone who seems to do better than us in some aspect of life.

Stop comparing yourself to others

Freeing yourself from the toxic dynamic of constant comparison requires awareness and practicebut it can radically transform the way we see ourselves and our lives – here’s how we can begin this change.

Focus on your personal progress

The first step to free yourself from the comparison trap is to focus on your goals and progress. Every day we take small steps towards our goals, and even if they are not always visible or sensational, they have enormous value.

We keep a diary or list of our successeseven the smallest ones, to remind us of what we have already achieved. Just being aware of the progress we have made will help us develop a sense of gratitude and personal satisfaction.

Reduce time spent on social media

When we scroll through social media, it’s important to remember that we’re only seeing part of reality: no one shares their failures or insecurities.

What we see is a selected and perfected version of the lives of others. With this awareness, it is easier to distance yourself from that idea of ​​perfection and not feel inadequate.

If we notice that spending too much time on social media gives us feelings of anxiety or envy, we consider the option of limiting the time we spend on these platformsor perhaps to practice a digital detox.

We use the time away from social media to do activities that make us feel good – such as cultivating a hobby, spending time with loved ones or dedicating ourselves to our personal growth.

Celebrate your strengths

Each of us has unique qualities that make us special. Instead of focusing on what others seem to do best, we spend time identifying our own strengths and qualities.

Being aware of your abilities and enhancing them is essential to building solid self-esteem and stop seeing life as a competition.

Remember that life is not a race

True satisfaction comes from improving yourself and working towards your goals, not from surpassing those achieved by others. When we focus all our energy on comparison, we lose sight of what really matters: our path.

Every person has a unique journey, and comparing ourselves to others will only diminish the importance of our journey. We celebrate our progress and are proud of what we are building, regardless of what the lives of others look like.

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