Ever notice we think others are happier? Someone has a good job, big house, travels monthly, always laughing. Then we think—maybe their life is better. This crosses everyone's mind. But why? Why do we see others' lives as better? The biggest reason: we know our life inside and see theirs outside. We know our problems, fears, failures. But we only see their chosen part.
Comparison happens between our whole life and their selected pictures. Illusion. Social media amplifies this. We see travel photos, new car, wedding, success, birthday. Smiling faces. But not the effort, stress, loneliness, struggle behind. People show best moments, not entire life. Yet our mind takes those as reality. Another reason: humans are comparative. From childhood, we face comparison—higher scores, taller, more beautiful, smarter.
Habit. As adults, extends to jobs, money, relationships, homes, cars, lifestyles. Ironically, the person whose life seems better might think same looking at someone else. Employee sees businessman's easy life. Businessman sees employee's stable life. City dweller wants village peace; villager wants city opportunities. Everyone finds another's life attractive. We often see others' achievements but not their struggle.
So their life seems easier and better. Often, our own dissatisfaction amplifies this feeling. When we are unhappy with our life, don't enjoy our work, or feel left behind, others' lives seem even better. Actually, the problem is not always about others' lives but our own unfulfilled desires and expectations. When the mind is dissatisfied, everything outside appears brighter. There's also a psychological reason. Our brains are drawn to new and different things. What we have gradually becomes ordinary; we take it for granted.
But what others have feels new, hence more valuable. If someone had our things and we had theirs, after a while both would likely feel the same lack again. That is, the problem is not in objects but in the habit of the mind. We also forget that every life has problems not visible from the outside.
The only difference is some burdens are visible and some are not. This doesn't mean we should never take inspiration. Seeing others' success and wanting to work hard is good. The problem arises when inspiration turns into comparison. Inspiration says, "I can also try." Comparison says, "I am less." This difference affects our self-esteem. A simple way out of this feeling is to look at your own life carefully. We also have many things that someone else might consider us lucky for.
thanks for watching...🤗
Use google translate…
image by canva…
