Social comparison is driving us to despair. It doesn’t have to

The article argues that in our social-media-driven world, constant comparison with others — whether upward (those doing “better”) or downward (those doing “worse”) — deeply shapes how we view ourselves, often fueling envy, inferiority, or despair rather than growth.
It explains that comparing lives, status, or success has become nearly automatic, and because social-media feeds show curated highlights, the comparison tends to skew unfavorably, hurting self-esteem and overall well-being.
The author also discusses that not all comparisons are harmful — used consciously, they can inform self-evaluation, inspire improvement, or help us calibrate our values.
Finally, the article suggests strategies to avoid the pitfalls of social comparison: become aware of your comparison habits, reflect on your values and personal goals rather than external metrics, and treat comparison as a tool for insight — not judgment.