Don't always envy others; living your own life well is the real skill.
Do you ever feel this way: You scroll through your phone for a bit and then your mind goes blank. Everyone else seems to have it all, while you're just a mess. Stop comparing your daily life to others' seemingly perfect lives; the more you compare, the more exhausted and anxious you become.
Every day you open social media and are bombarded with enviable lives. Old classmates post pictures of spacious, bright houses, exquisitely decorated and stylish; former colleagues are constantly traveling abroad, checking off all the must-see tourist spots; even friends you haven't contacted in ages are showing off their promotions, raises, and happy families. Then you look down at yourself: exhausted from work, wanting nothing more than to collapse after a long day, burdened by mortgage and car loan payments, your life mundane and ordinary.
Looking at all this, you can't help but feel a pang of sadness, even starting to doubt yourself: Why is everyone else living such a good life, while I'm just so ordinary? This sense of loss is so real; after all, everyone yearns for a glamorous life. But you forget that everyone is used to showing their best side. The exhaustion from working overtime, the frustration of dealing with trivial matters, the moments of secretly shedding tears—these are never posted on social media.
You always think others are lucky, that everything goes smoothly for them, but you don't see the hard work behind it all. That colleague who's always praised by the boss and gets promoted isn't naturally smart; while others are watching videos and playing games after get off work, he's studying his major, learning new skills, and silently burning the midnight oil countless nights. That neighbor with a great figure and elegant demeanor isn't naturally thin; he's consistently gotten up early to run and controlled his diet, without fail for years. Those who seem to make money easily have also experienced periods of obscurity and endured countless pressures and difficulties.
There's no such thing as good fortune that comes out of thin air. Behind every glamorous facade lies unseen perseverance and effort. While you're envying others, they're also working hard behind the scenes. Instead of wasting time being jealous and bitter, turn off your phone, calm down, and think about how you can live your own life well.
I have a friend who failed in his business a few years ago, accumulating a lot of debt and unable to even pay rent. At his lowest point, he could only afford instant noodles. During that time, he never complained about the unfairness of fate, nor did he have time to envy others' good fortune. Sleeping only four or five hours a day, he tirelessly worked in the market, revised plans, and maintained client relationships, gradually accumulating resources and solving problems step by step. After more than three years of hard work, he finally built up his business, paying off his debts and slowly getting his life back on track.
He often said: "Instead of looking up to others, hone your own skills. Difficulties are never meant to defeat you, but to weed out the strong. The more you run away, the harder life becomes; the harder you work, the wider your path becomes."
In the adult world, the most reliable thing is never luck, but your own ability. The workplace is increasingly competitive, and layoffs can happen at any time. Those who only care about eating, drinking, and having fun and never improve themselves panic when faced with unexpected changes, unsure of what to do next. But those who secretly learn skills, pursue side hustles, and continuously enhance their abilities always have confidence and can maintain a stable life no matter how the environment changes.
Change doesn't have to be earth-shattering, nor does it require forcing yourself to become a top performer all at once. Read a few more pages of a book every day to accumulate knowledge; learn a new skill every day to improve yourself; do one thing well every day to gain experience. Persistence will reveal that time rewards those who strive. Seemingly insignificant acts of perseverance will eventually become a powerful force, shielding you from life's storms.
Often, our anxiety and unhappiness stem from pointless comparisons. We constantly compare our weaknesses to others' strengths, always focusing on others' lives while neglecting our own path. Everyone's pace is different; some achieve fame young, some achieve success later in life, some prefer stability, some crave adventure. No one's life has a standard answer.
Don't envy others' brilliance; you yourself are slowly shining. Shift your focus from others to your own life. Concentrate on work, live well, take care of yourself, manage your family, and move forward step by step.
Don't rush to compare your progress with others, don't force yourself to immediately live the life you want. Just work hard, and leave the rest to time. Don't be a spectator in someone else's life; be the protagonist of your own. Live each day to the fullest, earnestly improve yourself, and you will gradually find that what you desire, time will give you.
Living your own life well is more important than anything else; maintaining your own stability is the greatest skill.