No comparison

“Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a person’s self. Where there is no comparison, there is no envy.” ~Francis Bacon

By now, everyone is familiar with the research on how social media can impact our mental health. While connecting with others online will temporarily ease feelings of isolation and loneliness, the danger of comparing ourselves to others is ever present. When others are posting photos of their outstanding accomplishments, remodeling projects, social lives, or exotic vacations in a Facebook post, for instance, you might struggle with feelings of envy.

On the positive side, envy inspires us to achieve goals or become better versions of ourselves. But if we’re always competing or comparing, envy can be counterproductive and erode our sense of wellbeing. It can spoil relationships, too.

We can do better. As Francis Bacon reminds us today, envy disappears when we stop comparing ourselves to others and start focusing on our individual gifts and resources. ~CL