Do you always compare yourself to others?

Most bronze medalists are happier than silver medalists, because bronze medalists compare themselves with all the people who competed but won no medal at all, while the silver medalists compare themselves with the gold medal winners and torture themselves with the belief that they could have won the gold medal. Our perception of the society around us is developed through our observation and understanding. We see, meet, and communicate with hundreds of people through all phases of our lives. We learn about other people, and through these experiences we learn about ourselves. This is the theory of comparison.

People come to know themselves by evaluating the successes, beliefs, and attitudes of the people around them. Regardless of positive or negative, upward or downward, social and emotional comparison dictates the decisions and beliefs of everyone in today's modern society.

In this guide we will deconstruct the habits and perceptions that lead to the consistent comparisons we make in our daily lives. We will discuss reasons behind this phenomenon and elaborate on it by providing information about the long-term effects of such habits.

Here is a preview of what we will discuss:

• Real-life scenarios of how people are comparing themselves to others
• Why comparisons are always unfair
• How to get out of this comparing mentality
• Why comparisons often result in resentment
• How to compare with yourself for improvement

Comparing with others may seem like a minor glitch in our thought process. But through this guide, we will expand on the impact of this seemingly minor habit. How social comparison affects our lives and how we attempt to combat these practices are among the issues tackled in this book. We will also explore and understand the social structures that construct people's opinions and why happiness and success are measured through the process of comparison rather than self-exploration.