At times, it may seem like the best option is to give up when you witness the vast strides made by others and realize the extent of the distance you must travel to catch up. This can be discouraging. Although life is not a competition but rather about improving oneself, the temptation to compare oneself with others who started at the same point in life and are doing significantly better can be overwhelming.
During such moments, it is important to acknowledge that each person's path to success is unique, and we all have different life experiences. Unfortunately, jealousy and animosity are prevalent in society because some individuals are unable to appreciate the success of others and be genuinely happy for them. They may not have any issue if they are the ones succeeding, but they struggle with it when others do.
I recently had a heart-to-heart with a close friend of mine, and she opened up to me about her current struggles with being single while seemingly all of our mutual friends have found their significant others.
Despite her best efforts, she expressed a sense of disappointment and discouragement towards her love life, noting that none of her previous relationships have ever work out in her favor. She confided in me about the loneliness she's felt during her journey, and shared that even though she still yearns for companionship, the fear of facing more romantic failures has caused her to contemplate giving up on the dating scene altogether.
It was one sad experience personally for me and I could feel her pain when she was sharing her ordeals with me. I came to the realization that this individual was using other people's achievements as a benchmark for their own success. This perspective is flawed and served as the impetus for this post.
When you compare yourself to others, you imply that you are at the same level of achievement as they are. Many people make the mistake of living their lives this way and end up feeling miserable. They strive to meet societal standards and the expectations of others, disregarding the fact that everyone's level of success is different.
Living in this manner leads to increased complexity and misery in one's life. It is crucial to acknowledge that each individual's journey towards success is unique, and the route that works for others may not necessarily be suitable for our own success. Realizing this and embracing a path that is tailored to our own success, rather than comparing ourselves to others, gives our life a purpose and brings us joy.
