Don’t Commit Intellectual Suicide by Comparing Your Life With Others
Accept that you are not a special case.
Everybody told you that you are unique since your early years. You heard that phrase again and again in your life. Eventually, you believed it and started thinking that you are a special case. So you deserve the best.
You want to draw all the eyeballs towards you and be recognized, praised and promoted at your work. You consider yourself the most important person in your family and friends.
You think you deserve to have a beautiful mansion, shiny car, and live in a rich neighborhood. You envision yourself to be sexier than anyone else. And you think you must have the most beautiful girl in the town to share your life with. Your kids should outshine every other kid in their schools and put glory on your face.
Your life and achievements should be a daily talk of other’s life. You want to rule like a king, being at the top of the pyramid.
As you consider yourself a special case, you act like you are immortal. All the other people will die, but somehow, you will live hundreds of years with ease. You cannot think of death as it is just not for a unique person like you. You feel that you are the center of the universe.
Deep inside, you believe that you are made for greatness. You are something else — unlike the folks you see around you.
This is why when you notice that others, maybe your neighbors or colleagues, are getting richer than you, having bigger houses and expensive cars, partying in posh clubs, and stepping up in the pyramid, leaving you behind — you feel threatened. Your life seems less attractive and meaningless.
Subconsciously, you make them your competitors. Jealousy and hatred devour your soul. The narrative you were fed years after years that you are unique and a special case seems like a big fat lie. But you cannot just see others shine over you.
You do everything to level yourself up, not because you want constant growth but because you cannot stand seeing others on top of you. And thus, you commit intellectual suicide and land yourself on a track of rat race, sacrificing your happiness and peace of mind.
Accept That You Are Not a Special Case
When everyone is unique, it means that no one is unique or special. And it means that this uniqueness doesn’t matter at all. You all are like each other. And the good thing is you don’t need to be a unique person to have a beautiful and happy life.
Stop feeding yourself twenty-four-seven that you are a special case and you must outshine all people around you. Accept the fact that you are like everyone else. And there is no shame in that.
The moment you accept yourself as one of the billions of people in the world, you will stop comparing yourself with others. And when you stop comparing, you will have more peace of mind. You will come out of the fear of getting lost. And you don’t have to post thousands of photos on social media to make yourself a brand. You will understand that being a good person is more important than being a brand.
Your acceptance of yourself as a common man will keep you grounded. Like all the other people, you will be no more within a few years as no man can live forever. This realization will help you value the moments you have in your hands.
You will value your relationships more than your money. You will try to spend more on experiences than achieving any fancy title or designation that upholds your social status.
You will realize — time, once gone, can never return, and we all live in this place only once. You will eventually understand that we all live within our own timelines. And comparing our lives with others is a foolish act that only ignorant and unsmart people do.
You will strive more to be good at what you do. You will passionately become the better version of yourself. Most importantly, you will look inside your mystic self to be more connected with the world around you.
Your feelings towards others will be more empathetic, and you will create a lovely bonding with the people you meet every day.
Stop Committing Suicide by Comparing Your Life With Others
Do not get fooled by the appearance of others. They may look happy and content outside, but looks, in most cases, are deceptive. They can be miserable with their life and unhappy with themselves and their achievements. You don’t know the complete story.
So if someone seems to become your competitor, you must take a moment and think deeply. Remember, everyone is good at something. It’s not because that person is unique or special but because he/she spent more and more time learning that craft.
So, ask yourself the question — why are you comparing yourself to that person? Is that a fancy title, fame, money, social influence, power, or else? Once again, do not get fooled by the appearance of others or their social media stories. In most cases, they are fabricated to get your attention and sell something. Don’t ever buy other’s life. Instead, live your own life with peace and happiness.
Comparing our life with others destroy our mental happiness and put us in an unhealthy race. A race to beat others and be the first. But life is not a race but a journey to enjoy every turns ahead. And when you run a race on this journey, you make it a tiresome and unbearable one. It’s like committing intellectual suicide.
Remember, the comparison has no ends. Because when you think you defeat one person, there will be another in front of you, then another, then another. It is a never-ending self-destructive process.
If you see no growth without comparing yourself with other people, I will tell you to compare yourself with your older version. You can ask yourself the following questions —
- Have I become more knowledgeable than last year?
- Did I grow empathy and kindness in me?
- Do I spend more time with my family and value the relationships I have?
- Did I learn anything from the latest setbacks?
- Am I enjoying my life, making every moment counts?
- Am I a role model for my kids? Do they love me more?
- Have I grown my maturity? Can I handle a difficult situation without being reactive?
- What am I doing for the natural world? Am I a sensible person?
Thus, ask yourself questions like the above that enhance your life and living. Questions like these will help you understand yourself and the world better. It will allow you to think and rethink your actions.
Final Thoughts
Do not take any sayings for granted. Use your brain and find out the hidden truth underneath. Make your life an amazing journey, not an unhealthy race with others.
Remember, all the kings of kings have turned into sands. And that’s the future of you too. You will not live forever as no one does. If lucky, you may hit a hundred years. But who wants to live hundred years, getting bedridden in the latter part? The time you have in your hands right now is more important than anything. So, spend the time wisely.
Measure your life, not by years, designations, money, or wins, but by the beautiful landscapes, you see on your journey towards the end.
Have an eventful life!
Thank you for reading.
You may read my following articles on Mind Cafe to know more about life and happiness
