Comparing Yourself to Others, Solved
Show notes
We all compare ourselves to other people—our friends, coworkers, strangers on the internet—and most of the time, it makes us feel like shit. But why do we keep doing it?
In this episode of Solved, we dig into the uncomfortable truth behind social comparison, how it quietly ruins our self-worth, and why most of what we envy in others is a projection of our own insecurity.
We also get into the brutal paradox of success, the toxic loop of chasing status, and how the constant measurement of our lives against others is one of the dumbest things we do as a species. If you’ve ever felt not good enough, or like you’re falling behind, this one’s for you.
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CHAPTERS
Chapters
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:05:29 Evolutionary Roots
- 00:16:20 The Emotional Toolkit
- 00:20:18 Philosophy and Social Comparison
- 00:23:31 The Buddhist Path
- 00:24:58 Aristotle
- 00:34:34 Stoicism
- 00:36:24 Existentialism
- 00:40:06 Myths
- 00:48:37 The Psychology of Social Comparison
- 00:58:54 Downward Comparison
- 01:22:19 Digital Technology and Social Comparison
- 01:44:20 The 80/20 of Managing Comparison
- 01:57:40 Hidden Costs
- 01:58:48 Takeaways
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