Comparison

Comparison is an important topic in this day and age. The human brain can't help but compare itself to others, which can be healthy in a small community, fostering competition between peers and giving people reference points. However, social media means that we're always comparing ourselves to the rest of the world. There's always someone making more money, having more fun, and doing better than you. Not only are we exposed to the top 0.001% of the world, feeds are always curated, meaning we don't see the more humble parts of everyone's lives that make them as human as you.

Some people grow up, measuring their self-worth against other people. Not even the people themselves, but idealised versions of those people that they have in their own heads. Whether it's a downward comparison to stomp on others or an upward comparison that makes yourself seem small, it's not a very fun way to live life.

We can't just "stop comparing" ourselves to other people, but we can always disrupt this process of automatic comparison with a little mindfulness. Catching yourself in the act can always help your brain realise that this is all pretty silly.

This is also a good reason to stop using social media too, or atleast to reduce excessive usage and to use it more intentionally. I know, it's hard, the whole Silicon Valley engine working against us and all that. I haven't really kicked it myself, but I'm trying.

We can hope to be surrounded by healthy comparison reference points, but with the world's best and impossible coming at us from every angle, we may have to curate some of our own.

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