I can’t stop comparing myself to other people and feeling like they are doing better than me
My dearest nieces and nephews, this week your query focuses on the self-doubt that terrorises every University student. Comparison is the thief of joy, yet, for many, comparison is a staple in University life. As midterms and Halloween creep up, it’s natural to compare yourself to your friend who’s studying 26 hours a day while still managing to go out every night. You have to remember that you never actually know what’s going on in people’s lives, everything you hear from someone that isn’t a close friend is what they want you to hear—remove the shiny instagram filters and you’ll see the cracks in their eggs.
But even with this information, you may still feel the urge to compare, one way to get over this is to focus on you. If you’re spending time looking at other people’s lives, you’re losing time focusing on yours. Figure out what you’re missing and work on it, set a goal for yourself. If you’re struggling to meet new people, perhaps set a goal to join a new society or speak to a new person every day. Even a few kind words between strangers can make you feel better.
So, my dear nieces and nephews, don’t compare yourself to anyone. Many factors go into a human life, you’ll never find anyone worth comparing yourself to. Even if you did, they’re probably still lying!
Image by Amelia Patterson (@patt_paints) for The Student
