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But envy is one of the most pervasive problems in today’s world, especially as social media normalizes the successes of others, making you feel like you’re “underperforming” the average when in reality you’re being shown a highlight reel of outliers. You’re always comparing yourself to someone ahead of you, and the goalpost will keep moving because the algorithm ensures that it moves on your behalf. And whenever a hierarchy like this exists, the fingers of envy creep within.

People say this like it's a truism, but the notion that social media only shows successful people or is like a highlight reel of life, is possibly false. Unless your social circle is limited to tech founders or celebrities, most people live pretty mundane lives. https://greyenlightenment.com/2022/04/27/still-skeptical-abo...

I don't see what is wrong with envy per say. What is wrong with wanting more. Envy is a major motivating or driving force of getting better at life.




> People say this like it's a truism, but the notion that social media only shows successful people or is like a highlight reel of life, is possibly false. Unless your social circle is limited to tech founders or celebrities, most people live pretty mundane lives.

The article is missing the whole point of envy. Envy manifest for those around you that have it better than you. The coworker that started with you and ended up climbing positions faster and has a better salary. The photos of the weeding of an old crush. Is about someone being an step up and the what-ifs that would have made it so you had that now.

If you are start up founder yes, it makes sense being envious if you went in a round and someone got the investment you wanted; or an acquaintance is already retiring while you are still iterating on your 5th failure business. Envy adjust to the grandeur delusions people have. Tech founders and celebrities may be yours, but for most people those around them that have it better.




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