Why the Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
Most of us are never truly satisfied with what we’ve got.
We always keep our eyes on what’s on the other side instead of being grateful for what we already have.
There’s a big difference between feeling jealous and having a vision for the future that’s better than our current situation.
When you focus on what’s on the other side of what you already have, you create an illusion of a better situation in your mind.
This is a bad habit that a lot of us have. In most cases, we’re raised to see the world like that because our parents did the same.
We tend to stay where we are while thinking other people have a better deal than we’ve got.
Of course, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence when you’re looking at it from your side.
What makes the grass greener is your angle.
You buy a ticket to a show and as soon as you sit down you look to see if others can see the stage better than you.
You buy a new car and while driving it you check out the cars of other drivers and think they have a better ride.
You get a new job or position and as soon as you start working you notice other people’s positions and you think they have a better role.
Rings a bell? What is the common theme here?
There’s a never ending cycle here that once you get into it, you will keep spinning without ever arriving anywhere.
We pay too much attention to what others experience more than our own.
The worst part is that all those people who you feel jealous about are feeling the same way about either you or other people.
There’s always a better seat at the show, a better car and a better position.
Our wishes are unlimited while our resources are limited. This is the case for everyone on this planet.
But how do you get out of this endless cycle?
By looking at how far you’ve come from where you were before no matter what situation you’re in.
By keeping your eyes on what’s in front of you and being grateful for all that you’ve already achieved.
By being happy with your current situation while having a grand vision of a better future without having your happiness tied to it.
It’s so easy to fall into the game of comparison. But it will not create any value. Not for you and not for everyone else.
So next time you get to a show or drive your car around try to remember the time you couldn’t afford to do any of those.
When you walk into your new position think of the time you could only dream about having that new role.
You want to make the grass on your side greener than the other side?
Change your angel, go stand on a different side and look at what you have. Chances are it will be greener than you ever thought.
I hope this has inspired you to change your angle and feel satisfied with your current achievements and I’d love to hear about your experience with it.
I wrote this piece as part of a 90-day challenge I took on to get better at this type of writing. To learn more about me you can visit my website here.