It’s a Monday and you’re walking to class. You might be exhausted from the weekend and dreading this exam. Or maybe you’re so giddy and can barely swallow the smile as if you’re walking on clouds. Lost in your own thoughts and trapped in your own mind, it’s easy to forget that the person next to you on the street is also thinking. Someone in the exact same environment has completely different thoughts in their head, seeing everything in a different perspective.
Even though each of our lives and thought processes varies greatly, all people still have this tendency to compare— compare the number of likes we get on a social media post or the amount of attention we get from our parents opposed to our siblings.
Comparison correlates strongly with competition. We have this deep desire to validate our purpose in life, and comparison has the potential to drive us to success. Nothing would be special and stand out from rest if there are no comparisons. But this force can also fuel us to feel inferior.
A year or two ago, I was introduced to the concept of sonder, known as “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.” Although sonder isn’t classified as an official word in the dictionary, the idea was mind-boggling to me. It’s one of those existentialist ideas that makes your head spin.
It’s crazy to think that a person who just received the A in class is struggling and striving in their own life. All the people you come across have their own story and everyone moves at their own pace. If it’s faster than your own, don’t be discouraged. Just ignore that insecure voice echoing in your head and read three of the possibly cheesiest but useful quotes below…
1. Don’t be afraid to be the full package
2. Trust the timing of your life
3. Everyone has a chapter they don’t read out loud
