Comparison and Personal Value

Comparison is the thief of joy, yet it is woven into the very fabric of society. Think of rankings at work, in sports, and in advertisements, where we are constantly reminded of what we lack and taught what we should want. It is time we realise that what is valuable to others may not be the same for us. Our unique lived experiences shape our mindsets and determine what holds value. Joy, sorrow, and success are deeply personal and build upon one another. Many of our actions today can be traced back to past experiences that shifted our way of thinking.

The next time social media, our friends, or even our loved ones compare us with others, we ought to take a step back and introspect. We must remind ourselves that they are evaluating us through their own lenses and experiences, not ours. Stop living your life based on what someone else has determined to be a life well-spent. That’s their business, and that’s how they should live their lives if they choose to. We ought to be indifferent. Every decision has a value and a trade-off as we define it.

It’s important that we determine today what is of value to us; knowing our destination will help us make sense of the journey.