The Peril of Comparison
When satisfaction or contentment is derived primarily from our comparative view of others, particularly their financial persona, we may find ourselves never finding real satisfaction or contentment. One can rarely attend a party, share a round of golf or meet up with relatives without forming some opinions about other’s “lot in life.” Those opinions are then assimilated into a construct of we are either “better off” or “have work to do.” Cindy’s new purse, Jack’s new house, or your brother-in-law’s new sports car can cause many of us a mix of angst and, sometimes, envy. We then take these comparative narratives and either act or ruminate about how we should modify our own lives. This is a slippery slope and one that rarely serves us well. A few things to consider include: In many cases, the opinions we internalize may not reflect the other crew’s actual situation. “The problem [...]