Do you compare yourself with your friends?

@Ysabel (1201)
Philippines
March 4, 2010 11:17am CST
I don't. I have my strength and weaknesses, and they have their own strength and weaknesses too. But it just occur to me and I have the feeling that I am left behind in terms of status in life.. achievements, what they've been doing, where they've been going, and I felt pressured to catch up with them. Personally, I am contented with my life overall and just this strange feeling beats me now. Do you also feel this same way, sometimes?
4 people like this
28 responses
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
you are right... we are unique, but sometimes for us to learn and to know whats wrong about us, we need to compare our self, i admitted it, sometimes am comparing myself just to know about something not to get envy or something its just to accept the face the fact and my wrong, its easy for me as a human if i can see example to know my wrong, but not too much, just to analyze something.
3 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
18 Mar 10
hmmm... that's totally new. all the others are saying we shoudn't compare. but you are right, we can compare and correct and improve ourselves for the better! we cannot see what's we've been missing if we will not look at what others have right? and then we can work that out to get that something too. self improvement.
4 Mar 10
I don't really compare myself to my friends but sometimes I think they have it all perfect even though I know nobody really does.
3 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
16 Mar 10
Yes, i know all of us has this feeling sometimes. We often think they are better in some other ways than us. Then we do not entertain the idea some more because it will just give more negative thoughts.
@jugsjugs (12967)
4 Mar 10
I never compare myself with other friends as i think that they live a very different life style to me and i think thaqt we all have alot of different things that we all like doing ready for our futures.I have a few friends that are not married aswell as do not haqve children and they have no money,then there are the friends that are always out and about and live a happier life,but have not paid their bills.I see my friends as friends and would not want to compare myself with them.
3 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
10 Mar 10
I just think my friend that it is inevitable that we compare. sometimes we cannot control it and then it just happened and then we realize, opppsss this is bad we should not compare... but if we can only control, we do not want to compare because it will just be unfair as we all live different lives, as you have said. you are right in saying that your friends have different situations and I should bear that in mind too. Thanks for sharing... :)
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
4 Mar 10
i dont think it`s not urgent to always compare ourself to others. maybe if only once or twice to make that we can do which someone can do.but if we always any time to compare it, iam doubt that it good for our mentality. i believe thats not good to always compare ourself and other. i always believe in our wisely words, just be your self
3 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
10 Mar 10
hello adhyz82, i think also we cannot avoid it. sometimes it just happen without us being aware of it that we are already comparing ourselves with our friends, or those really closes to us. then we realize its bad and its not right, so we stop ourselves. yes, we need to be just ourselves and be proud of who we really are! thanks for sharing! :)
@MrKennedy (1978)
4 Mar 10
Nope. I'm the same as you when it comes to comparing myself with people in general. I have my weaknesses and strengths, and they have their weaknesses and strengths. We are all different from one another, so comparing ourselves is ridiculous because all it does is highlight our weaknesses and makes us feel inferior.
3 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
4 Mar 10
Definitely agree with you MrKennedy. So ridiculous to even think of it. Sometimes though, when you are always with few friends, and I mean really always hanging out day-in and day-out, one cannot help but give it a thought, even for only at a time. Like, how luckier she/ he is.. and then totally erase the idea.
1 person likes this
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
I don't really like to compare but sometimes I felt jealous on some point and just hide my feelings of insecurity with them. I knew it's bad and I'm trying to change it and just being myself. I love my friends so much and hope they we're true and real friends for me forever...
2 people like this
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
24 Mar 10
Yes, I agree to your opinion. Thanks Happy Mylotting, Ysabel! Keep posting more quality discussion. Good Luck!
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
26 Mar 10
thank you! i will go and check you profile and see you have a lot of discussions there too!
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
4 Mar 10
I guess its natural to sometimes compare your status amongst the peers you've been with always or most of the time, especially your friends. I don't see anything wrong with trying to catch up with their success, as long as you don't thread over any of their boundaries, it will in fact make you a better person, that's if you truly know what you go for not just try to be somebody you aren't. There are things in life that depresses me, and one of them is my current status in life as compared to most of my batch mates, but I always say to myself that there are worse things that could happen but should be thankful for for I'm not in one of them and that there are always better sides of anything.
2 people like this
@jammyt (2818)
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
Choybel: I like what you said: "it will in fact make you a better person". That's right. Either you become inspired with what other have achieved while being happy for them, or you wallow in sorrow because you are not like them.and yes, there are always better sides of anything. Ysabel: I guess what you're feeling is just normal. I think people feel this at one point or another.. cheer up, I'm sure you have something they don't have that makes you happy. Some have all the money and fame, but have no family. Some have families but are not lucky in work or money, and so on...
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
10 Mar 10
Thank you jammyt. That means I am indeed a normal person! LOL ... Thanks for pointing it out... Guess I really have to look at the good sides of what I have and just be proud of who I am. :)
1 person likes this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
4 Mar 10
Maybe I just have this slight feeling after seeing all my HS friends in facebook! I know its bad, its weird and strange feeling for me but while Im seeing all the familiar faces which brought back fond memories, I can't help but notice how far they have been too and yeah I should say that I am far behind now. Gosh. I hate this feeling. . he he
1 person likes this
@mods196621 (3652)
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
Sometimes I feel that comparing myself to my friend but that was happened only if I'm depressed and feeling of becoming a loser. I don't like this thing to happen but sometimes I feel this way and it makes sad. Anyway it was just a feelings. Well after this scenario in life I feel happy again and I say thanks to all my friends. Whatever my friends has it's okay and fine with me and what I have more than my friends I kept silent and never to compare to my friends. Thanks and have a nice day!
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
Thanks sharing mod196621! As I was saying to other mylotters here, there are times that the person may not be aware that he/she is already doing the comparison. But its at the end of the day, how we handle it, how we strive to do whatever is best for us especially to for our self-improvement, this indeed is the most important thing. :)
• Philippines
10 Mar 10
Personally,I think this is inevitable. How can we ever stop ourselves form comparing? We are human beings after all. We are affected by the people around. Comparing ourselves itself is not bad. What we do after and what we feel after, do we feel inferior? Do we take things to catch up? And I mean taking steps to catch up with them no matter how and no matter what we do, just to keep up? Its up to us how we handle this. Comparing can be constructive. We do things to be able to improve ourselves, but also we should accept things that we cannot control, that no matter waht we do, we are just us and we will never be like them. We can improve a little. We can be a better person like them. But being realistic and being accepting of things we cannot do also.
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
How can we stop ourselves from comparing? We cant! We just can't! But what we can do is that do some self-assessment. Look for areas where we can improve ourselves. Focus on things where we can do more. If they still excel than us, let them be and be happy for them. We cannot be on top all the time, and all at once. Surely one day, our time will come when we have more and they have less. Not that I am wishing that they fall, but more on we do more so we excel and shine more brightly.
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
I really don't compare myself with my friends but just having some what if's within me if i am at their footsteps. But what i will think behind my back there's really a reason or a purpose that what i have achieved is not as high as they are. But what is really a good thing is you are satisfied and contented with the life you are having and enjoying it to the fullest.
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
18 Mar 10
hello mitchelle.. sometime we just can't help it.. we don't want to, but we don't realize when we see our friends, we are already comparing somehow. i think, and agree with what others have been saying, i realize that we need to look at ourselves too and check what potentials we have and maybe we can achieve some more like our friends. not exactly the same as what they have, but use the comparison in improving ourselves. :)
@sikat101 (149)
• Philippines
4 Mar 10
Nope. I acknowledge my friends' achievements and I am truly happy for them. I do not need to catch up with them nor they catch up with me. Status does not matter to me. We are all human beings and should be treated fairly under the law. I believe that it only I that can make myself feel inferior.
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
18 Mar 10
thanks for the enlightenment! that is so true! we just have to be happy for our friends achievement, and reject all those negative thoughts, right? i think i just have to constantly remind myself of that...
@namiya (1718)
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
I agree with you. Just be happy for your friends achievement for that is real friendship. Just count your blessings. Every person has a plus and minus factor in him and being blessed is not measured in one's financial achievement or social status in life. There are persons who are looked up to as very successful but are really not happy and miserable and, I won't consider that as success
@sblossom (2168)
5 Mar 10
It depends. usually i just compare myself with my same age friends. if they are a lot older than me I would not compare with them. However I would think if I can reach their achivement when i am in their ages. I don't know it's good or not, but I think it's part of human nature. it can give me motivation in life. they are kind of my direction and target. you don'y need feel pressure. every one has different life and luck. so you just do your best. comparisation with your friend is just a way to help you wide world.
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
hello sblossom, thanks for the word of advice. yes, sometimes we can't help but compare but we can use it to motivate ourselves to work harder and aim higher so we end up as better persons. its like a win-win situation.
• China
5 Mar 10
Different people have different pursues and different realm, and stand on different sides to consider anything, it is hard to define the happiness and success for everyone. To be precise, there is no comparability between different people. If let me make good choice, I will exert myself to enjoy life all the time regardless of other bored things.
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
That is a very positive outlook in life, and I admire you. Looking forward to have the same points of view. Its juts that there are times that comparing can really be inevitable, one may not be aware that the comparison is already taking place. But at the end of the day, how you handle and overcome it is the most important step one has to take.
• India
5 Mar 10
No........ I never compared me with my friends..........
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
10 Mar 10
hello ganesh_bala!.... that's so nice of you then! ... thanks for sharing. :)
1 person likes this
@jammyt (2818)
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
I don't really like to compare myself coz I know that's bad. Though sometimes, I kinda feel like "They're in this status already and I'm still here, etc, etc". Then I start telling myself that I excel in other fields too. In my own pace, I will probably where they are. And sometimes I tell myself, I'm really not in their circle---then I remember that I'm happy with what I have and who I am.
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
18 Mar 10
hello jammyt, i realize that by looking at others, we can somehow check ourselves what potentials we have and what we can do some more, sometimes we need a little push to do more things and seeing our friends achieve more can somehow be our driving force to improve and move forward. what do you think?
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
5 Mar 10
I think most humans do compared.. Especially those frenz whom are much weaker than us in studies, and yet now they are doing far better than us in life?? We will tend to feel unfair, and also start to ask ourself what's wrong.. haha =D THere will be some inferior complexity in us, but as long as we can get over it fast, we will be good.. Because nothing in life last forever.. And if we are contented with the way life is, why bother to change or even risk it?? hehe
1 person likes this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
29 Mar 10
hello my dear friend, kun! that's right.. i think you pointed out the right thing.. "that we need to get over it fast!".. becuase i really think comparing is something that i cannot avoid. sometimes, i am not even aware of it, but i am already doing the comparison! you are definitely right, i will just have to get over the feeling right away! thanks! :)
1 person likes this
• Quezon, Philippines
11 Mar 10
What status in life? What achievements? What have they've been doing? Where they have gone? Be happy with what you have, where you have gone, and what you are doing right now. It is but natural to have that feeling but think. You are different. You are unique. One of a kind star from the vastness of the universe. Be different.
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
Hello Ethan, thanks much. I imagined you saying those words exactly with so much conviction! There are times that we could not really help it. We may not even be aware that we are already comparing. But at the end of the day, what's more important is on what we plan to do to combat the negative thoughts. And how we can further improve ourselves to be a better person.
@kialele (126)
• United States
4 Mar 10
I did. But I always tell me that everyone has his own life. Some is rich, some is poor, some is intelligent and some is average. So I gradually don't really care about it. No matter what life you are living, you will have this or that difficult. So everyone is unique.
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
4 Mar 10
That's is very true. Each one is unique in every way. We can always see a certain aspect in another's person life that she/ he is luckier than us. But there are also areas in our life that we are luckier than that person, only we sometimes fail to see it.
1 person likes this
@kiel_d_01 (136)
• Philippines
5 Mar 10
apparently yeah, i do compare myself with my friends.... i'm the kind of person who hasn't got that much in life and every time i see my friends it always comes into my mind ... why am i not like that or i wanna be like that ... i don't know how to put it but maybe i'm just being insecure or what... maybe it's like that ehehe but i always keep our friendship in tact -^^-
1 person likes this
• China
5 Mar 10
oh!Yes,I do. I think it's a good way to stimulate myself. I always do that when I was unhappy,I compare myself with my friend who are always happy. Why she always keep herself in good mood and what's wrong with me? It's good for us that compare ourselves with our friends,right?
2 people like this
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
24 Mar 10
welcome to mylot foreveryday! i hope you enjoy your stay here! ... stimulate! that's a nice word.. we compare ourselves with them, then check what else can we do to improve, and stimulating ourselves to even do so more so we can move forward. nice one.. thanks for sharing. :)