Monday’s can be difficult.
You wake up, it’s the start of a new week and you might be feeling a bit anxious.
Your mind is racing ahead to all the things you need to do and all the challenges you need to overcome.
It can be a bit daunting.
So here’s a mood booster for you.
A reason why you don’t need to feel so bad, why you should be grateful for your life and why today is a great day to be you.
“It’s not greed that drives the world, but envy” – Charlie Munger.
I never really understood this quote.
I mean, I got it, but I never really knew it, or experienced it.
Until recently.
And I’ve started to realise how true the late Charlie Munger was with this.
Very Schopenhauer-ian of him, which I’ll always be a fan of.
Because there is no objective truth in the world.
There’s no objective level of wealth that will make you happy.
There’s no objective level of quality relationships to bring happiness.
There’s not even an objective level of health that will make you happy.
And so, without this, we must resort to comparing ourselves to those around us.
Which means, if we’re doing ‘better’ than those around us, we feel stress-free, and happy.
But if we’re doing ‘worse’ (by whichever metric you’re measuring), you will feel down and depressed.
This works with money, performance at work, health… everything.
Other people are literally the only yardstick we have to go off.
This is never going to change.
We will never stop comparing ourselves to others.
And it will always feel rubbish to compare ourselves unless we realise the one thing that is actually true.
The one objective truth within this whole subject.
And that is; no one is as happy as they seem.
You may look at one of your friend’s job title, or salary or house or relationship and think:
‘they’re doing better than me and are joyously happy… i wish i was like them’
You may even think you have evidence of their unwavering joy and indisputable greater happiness.
You may think:
‘But they’re always going out to expensive restaurants and on 5* holidays’
‘They’re always smiling and laughing together’
Well… the truth is, you don’t know what’s truly going on.
Whether it’s on social media or in real life, you only see the tip of the iceberg.
You don’t see people’s inner worlds that are undoubtedly more tumultuous and troubled than you could ever imagine.
Much like yours probably is.
Think about it.
People only see your highlight reel too.
Yet you know how sad and anxious you can feel on Sunday nights.
And how difficult your relationship with your family sometimes is.
And how lost you can feel in your career.
Well, the good news is, everyone else is feeling like that too.
So, next time you’re chatting with someone you envy, show vulnerability.
Tell them something that’s rubbish about your life.
Or that you’re anxious about.
And they will open up too, I hope.
And at that point, you can connect over what it means to be human.
So, this week, endeavour to be less envious of others by realising they aren’t as happy as they seem.
Practice your own gratitude for all the great things in your life.
And show vulnerability.
People will love you.
Love, as always,
Max
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