We live in a world where it has never been easier to compare our lives to others. We are probably not even aware of how much time and energy we spend on comparing our lives to others. Social media allows us to stay up to date on what is going on with our friends and family at all times.

While social media can be a great tool for helping us stay in touch, it can also be dangerous in terms of leading to discontentment.

What we have to remind ourselves is that what we see on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is only the highlight reel of someone’s life. We tend not to post about our hurts and insecurities. So when we take what we don’t like in our lives and compare it to only what is posted on social media, we are setting ourselves up to be insecure, disappointed, and discontent with ourselves.

Comparison never leads to good things. We either feel worse about ourselves, or we put someone else down.

Comparison is exhausting. So how do we learn to stop? We may need to limit the time that we spend on social media. Research has shown that less time spent on social media is related to experiencing fewer negative emotions. We can also practice cultivating thankfulness in our lives. Instead of focusing on what is going on with others, we can choose to focus on what is going in our own lives. All of us have unique backgrounds, relationships, and a set of skills. It is not fair to compare what we have to others.

Written By: Elizabeth Kraich, LAPC