By Johanne Mendoza
The comparison game is hard to avoid on social media. We are bombarded with instant gratification and posts that set unrealistic expectations.
Extravagant lifestyles or perfect bodies are often pushed onto our pages, but such posts show only the good that people want others to see. They lack vulnerability, opting for a filtered lifestyle. I, too, sometimes choose only the best angles or most aesthetically pleasing pictures to post online.
“The grass is always greener on the other side” idiom expresses the common misconception that everyone else’s situation is better than yours. In many Western cultures, it reflects a society in which people get jealous of others’ accomplishments and are not satisfied with the cards they are dealt. This mindset makes you look at everyone else’s life as a blueprint, and you can’t help but feel sorry for yourself if you can’t meet such expectations.
Although social media can be fun for expressing yourself and inspiring others, there is a thin line between inspiration and comparison. In this digital age, it’s easy to be weighed down by what everyone else is doing, causing us never to be satisfied. In a capitalistic society that constantly urges us to purchase the newest items for happiness, we could benefit from looking inward for self-gratification.
Most of the time, social hangouts are documented digitally but lack actual connections through meaningful conversations. Although we are all connected digitally and socially, the connections usually remain at the surface level. Taking pictures and capturing videos is okay, but we need to prioritize meaningful interactions.
I must remind myself that only some things I see online are a recipe for success; most pictures are edited, and people usually post only a curated slideshow of what they want you to see.
This is something I struggle with daily, especially since this is my senior year; I can’t help but feel that I fell behind compared to university students I see online. They go on luxurious trips, have a grad school lined up or splurge on big purchases. This causes me to doom scroll, mostly ending with feeling less satisfied and empty.
I noticed that being in constant comparison with others takes away from my achievements and lowers my self-confidence. Reflecting on my strengths and appreciating the sources of beauty in my life allow me to see my actual value.
Being aware of reality can help you gently shift your focus from comparison while scrolling through Instagram stories or seeing curated posts to appreciation for the here and now. This outlook helped me see that my grass was green enough, and I hope this article reminds you that your grass is green enough, too.
