With a new reality show popping up every other day, it’s obvious that our society has an obsession with other people’s lives (or what we perceive other people’s lives to be).
When we see our friends/family/acquaintances get new houses, cars, or other big ticket items, we congratulate them and then turn around and plot out a way to get something bigger and better so that they can be awestruck with us.
“Why can’t I get a new job, take an exotic vacation, or even get some unexpected money.” We say to ourselves. Heaven forbid if we actually say those things out loud and someone hears us. Embarrassment of the green eyed monster that lives in us all (-to a certain extent.)
Why should I care that…
You just bought a brand new Lexus GS300?
You just bought a new designer pair of shoes?
You just got a 3 karat diamond ring?
My question to you is, “Are you counting down until you get paid again?” If the answer is, “YES”, then you are probably still as broke as me.
The point I am trying to make is a simple one. Don’t let other people’s “smoke and mirrors” get to you, causing you to feel inferior. Anyone who is showcasing what they have is trying to use that to make you feel less worthy (as if they are the only ones worthy). It doesn’t matter who that person is to you in your life.
Don’t get me wrong. There are times when we have achievements in our lives that we want to share with our loved ones. That’s great, fine and dandy, but not what I am referring to. We all know people who only come around when they are trying to show you what they have. We all know someone who will call us out of the blue to brag on their wonderful successes. The ones that could care less about what you have going on in your world just as long as you and everyone else know how GREAT life is going for them. They want to see the green eyed monster in you.
Why?
Well, you already know why; it makes them think they have power over you. And you give them power by allowing that side of you to come out (whether internal or external).
Know that your achievements –whether BIG or small – are just as significant and important.
Plus, who are we actually in competition with? The next man/woman doesn’t care if we have gone into debt trying to show that they aren’t flashier than us. Why should they when they are worried about trying to pay off that enormous debt they incurred by trying to make you feel like crap?
Ultimately, we should only be in competition with ourselves; to be better than we were the day before or even the year before. Only at that time can we can make our own lives a better reality where others will be green trying to mirror us.
I agree with you completely; however, can we properly define the “American Dream” if it is not the pursuit of wealth and/or power? We know that traditionally the thought is that one can work hard to attain more than their predecessors. There is an entire culture here in Atlanta, GA where keeping up with the Joneses (no play on words) is a way of life; a motivating factor for nearly everything. I guess at the end of the day, it just ain’t easy being green
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