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.
We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/socialcomparison
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
5:29 Chapter 1: Evolutionary Roots
16:20 The Emotional Toolkit
20:18 Chapter 2: Philosophy and Social Comparison
23:31 The Buddhist Path
24:58 Aristotle
34:34 Stoicism
36:24 Existentialism
40:06 Myths
48:37 Chapter 3: The Psychology of Social Comparison
58:54 Downward Comparison
1:22:19 Chapter 4: Digital Technology and Social Comparison
1:44:20 Chapter 5: The 80/20 of Managing Comparison
1:57:40 Hidden Costs
1:58:48 Takeaways
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