Comparison: A Nasty Habit
It’s a Tuesday evening, and as usual, you are scrolling through Tik-Tok or Instagram and every person who pops up on your FYP seems to be better than you in some or the other way, their life seems “action-packed”, they have a tiny waist or a smaller nose, and on and on. This is an issue and everyone goes through it. Evaluating your attitude, body, skills, lifestyle, etc. of comparing yourself with others is negativity that ends up affecting the child inside you.
And Gen-Z is getting better and better at this toxic skill by comparing their lives with others. Being a part of an audience on the internet on a consistent basis where the world is dynamic and diverse, the younger generation tends to get influenced by unrealistic beauty standards, changing trends, and never-ending competition.
It is way worse than we think it is!
Well, you may think, “Oh, I’ll get over it, it’s whatever and all.” But no, it ends up making you feel worthless, like you will never be up to the mark or inadequate, It basically CRUSHES you! Comparing yourself to the next person is not the way out. The envy towards others may make you feel inferior and if overdone, the result will be a depressing, sour, and unpleasant self-isolation
Jealousy or envy is not a sustainable form of motivation. It creates toxic and unhealthy competition. This type of competition often leads to an obsession with outdoing others rather than focusing on personal growth and development. It is important to remember that it’s YOUR personal journey and not your friend’s, your classmate’s, your colleague’s, or that cover-page model’s.
When does this end?
It never really gets over. Comparing is not fair at all, and one of the reasons why you should avoid doing it is that everyone is brought up and groomed in a different environment with different surroundings and situations. The academic culture makes you compare yourself with the next person, it is inevitable. Everyone has a different mindset, different experiences, etc. so, it is self-harm at the end of the day.
What should you do?
It’s about celebrating your unique path, journey, and body. Ignore the external factors! It’s not beneficial to break yourself just because society thinks there is a “right way to be” or “the right way to be done”. Open your wings, explore, take care of yourself, and embrace your mistakes. Rise above the negativity and cultivate a healthy and positive mindset.
