I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.
Today’s tip is to not compare how you feel inside to how others feel outside.
One of the things I’ve learned in my life is that many times other project a much different view of their life than they feel. I notice I do the same thing. I might appear happy or joyous when I’m not feeling that way inside. I may be full of stress, anxiety, concern, or some other negative feeling from life.
If I deliver a presentation or go to a public space, I may not show those feelings.
In this age of social media where it seems others are loving life, having success, and doing fun things that you envy, it’s easy to think their life is better than yours. This might be exacerbated in your mind when you aren’t enjoying life. You might feel you are unworthy or much less successful/capable/satisfied/etc. in life than others.
Remember that you don’t really know how others are doing, even if they are your close friends. You may not even realize how your family members truly feel.
Focus on yourself, which is what I try to do more often. I may look at the things others do as ideas for my own life, but I try very hard not to make comparisons.