(Oscar Reynolds) Self Comparison

In a time where it’s socially acceptable to have your phone on the dinner table, our lives exist in two worlds: online and offline. If I was to walk into a party filled with most of the people I had ever known, and each of them only told me their most recent proudest moments and achievements, it would be very hard to not feel like an underachiever. I may also get upset because I’d be in the toilet cue for a year. Self-comparison can be difficult enough to turn off when I’m looking at one person so social media can really become a kaleidoscope of envy.

I could stop going on Facebook. By avoiding something that fuels thoughts of inadequacy, I may temporarily relieve the issue and it’s definitely worth a ponder. Although cutting something off almost seems to help self-esteem shrink. I like the idea that we can perceive the achievements of others as goals that are exciting to work towards rather than being upset that we haven’t achieved them already. I find in being proactive a little bit at a time and reminding myself that I can’t do everything at once, I can look at people a different way quite quickly.

I’m never going to experience life as someone else, which leaves allowing self-comparison to be my motivation seem rather fruitless.