Skip to main content

Don't compare yourself to others

I know how tempting comparing our life to that of a friend, co-worker, or neighbor can be.

He has a BMW and I don't.

She has a Louis Vuitton purse, but I don't.

They have beautiful children, but we don't have any.

If you're constantly comparing your life to others', you'll never be truly happy. Why?

Chances are, there will always be something someone has that you don't.

I've talked in other posts about how people's need for approval can prompt them to act, dress, and live like their peers, even if it isn't what they really want to do.

It doesn't matter whether they incur loads of debt or go against their core values as a result. Some people cannot resist the urge to keep up with those Joneses.

The pressure to conform to societal norms is alive and real. But no one says you have to succumb to it.

Do things -- whether it's buy a fancy car, dress in a certain style of clothes, or have children -- because you want to, not because it's what expected of you.

People will always want you to follow in their footsteps because it validates their own interests, beliefs, and opinions.

But you're your own person -- with your own set of likes and dislikes. To follow the herd mentality is to betray the values you hold dear.

Maybe you don't want to eat meat because you're big on animal welfare. Maybe you don't want to drive a car because of potentially harmful effects to the environment. Perhaps you're opposed to drinking because you hate the taste of alcohol or stopped imbibing ever since your friend, a heavy drinker himself, died of liver cancer. Maybe you would rather live a childfree life because you want to maintain peace and quiet in your household.

These are all legitimate reasons for breaking such societal norms, but it isn't as if you have to justify your decisions and views to anyone. If they just can't accept that you want to do something differently -- likely out of insecurity -- they don't deserve you in their life.

When someone does something differently, it gives some people pause. They may question whether they themselves are making the right decisions or following the right trends. Psychologically, it's always easier to single out others as weird and play it safe by following the crowd.

Let your true self shine through. We only have one life to live. We might as well present an authentic version of ourselves to the world than a fabricated one meant to appease the masses.

Be you. Be unique. Take pride in yourself!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...
1 comment
Read More

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...
6 comments
Read More

Men prefer to marry brunettes

Study after study shows that men prefer blondes as girlfriends or mistresses and brunettes as wives . It seems many men see brunettes as more trustworthy and loyal. What's more, even though participants claimed that blondes are better in bed, they feel brunettes are better kissers and more affectionate than blondes. I find these results to be rather interesting. In my high school and early college days, I actually had a preference for blondes myself -- that is, until I hooked up with my now-wife. From that point on, I deemed brunettes as more attractive and marriage material, probably because they reminded me of and more closely resembled her. I think we can blame Hollywood, shows like Baywatch, and Playboy for painting blondes as wild, big chested, promiscuous and loose. (Yes, I know that there are brunettes in Playboy, but they seem to be in the minority.) When someone tells a man to think of an attractive blonde, who do you think likely crosses his mind? More likely than...
Post a Comment
Read More