The Little book of Contentment by Leo Babauta

Comparing to What You Don’t Have One of the biggest sources of discontent is comparing yourself to other people, or your life to what you see others doing. Or what you’ve accomplished compared to what others have done.

I find people comparing themselves to me all the time: they want to be as successful, or as simple, or as happy with their families, or as bald. (OK, the last one isn’t true.)

Of course, they are comparing themselves to a fantasy. In real life, I’m not what they think I am. And in reality, no one you see is what you think they are — you only see certain parts of the story, the good parts, and rarely see the person’s doubt and anguish and discontent. People don’t share their warts and hemorrhoids, just the great pictures of their food and vacation and children.

So you’re comparing yourself to a fantasy, an illusion, and of course the reality of your life (and who you are) comes up wanting. This exercise is worse than useless — it’s actually