Why do we compare us?

Since our childhood, our parents tell us to perform better than others. To take part in various events & win the competition.

This holds true for every debate, academics, sports.

As we grow up, they tell us to score more marks in  high school, than the son of Mrs. X or the daughter of Mr. Y.

Even when we plan to go to college, they try to make sure that we are in a better one than the kids of Mr. Z.

When in college, they tell us that we must get more than the P, who is in a different college studying Science, while we are in a someplace else studying Commerce.

And it goes without saying, they tell you to get a better paying job than S. God forbid if you fail to do so, as then a never ending trail of praise for P & S begins, reminding you of your failures, and how you have shown them down.

This feeling of competition is imbibed in us, from our childhood. Thus, we start comparing ourselves & our lives to those of A, B & C. We see how they have a better job than us, or live in a more lavish home, have a higher salary, own a bigger car… the list is endless.

“The grass is always greener the other side of the fence”, is a phrase which holds true in such situations. Even if we get a good job, there will always be somebody we know, who has a better one than us. Even if you live in a good city, there must be someone living in a city, where you wanna be.

Somehow they are always living a life which you wish for. And even after you attain that, you always find someone with a better deal and compare yourself to him/her, a few E, F, Gs, who make you feel that what you have in life is not good enough.

This constant practice of trying to compete & compare, leaves us sad in the midst of a lot of happiness. I also understand this, but often find myself comparing my life to those of others. I guess there’s something they have, which I wish I had. But what I don’t realize is that I also have somethings in my  life, which may be others wish they had.

This vicious cycle, goes on all along. Maybe it motivates us to perform better in life, but it also dampens our spirits & overshadows our achievements, as they are never enough, neither in our eyes, nor in the eyes of our parents, who sing the saga of the achievements of others… forever!