Someone else is always better than you
Someone is always better than you. And that’s okay . It is a simple truth that applies for all of us. No matter who you are, where you are or what you do. Someone is always better than you at anything.
Either better at making jokes, better at doing the work, better at coming up with ideas, better at making money, better talking themselves out of difficult situations or even better at being a good person. The list goes on and on. Right now as we speak, while you were reading this, you immediately think about certain things at which someone is better than you. But you did not immediately think about that one thing at which you are better at than everybody else. Instead, you just thought of that one thing you want to be great at yourself, but are not when compared to others. And it’s bugging you isn’t it?
In the days before internet, we measured ourselves with the people in our direct environment. Your father is a better worker than you. Your mother is a better painter than you. Your sister is a better student than you. Your brother is better at sports than you. Your best friend is a better lover than you. Your partner is a better cook than you. Your children are better negotiators than you. And oh dear, the new intern is better at your job than you. Those were the measurements at which you compared your own accomplishments to. But now with the constant grow of content on social media, providing a flood of success stories and great accomplishment brings more pressure on the fact that everyone else is simple better than you. And that feeling, SUCKS.
However when focusing on all the things other people do better, we tend to let those things overshadow our own achievements. Our own skills that we can do better than someone else. Even the little ones. Because as all those around you are all better than you in that one thing. But you, yes you, are better at a lot of other things that they are not. Sure, your father might be a better worker than you. But you are a better cook than him. You partner might be a better cook than you, but you are better in cleaning the house than your partner. Instead of focusing on your failures, look at your accomplishments. No matter how small they might be. Because everything we do matters in the larger scale of contributions to your life.
Everything takes time and effort
When that feeling of being able to do better tugs at you, there is this little thing called self improvement. You can become ambitious. If you want to become better, then the solution is simple. Practice, learn, train, improve and grow. You can always become a better you. You can always become better at any skill. Even if it is a simple skill you haven’t acquired yet like cooking or sewing. Those things can be learned with time and effort. Some of you think that you don’t have what it takes to even begin at learning or training to become better. It might seem impossible, or when you begin it takes so long till you even see any improvement, that you tend to just give up. To this I say, try to remember being a child. Because we forget sometimes that we have been accumulating skills and knowledge through out our childhood into our adulthood. We are always continuously learning and accumulating different skills. It just took years. So time and effort are your friends. Annoying friends, but friends nonetheless.
Even talent has it’s limit
Occasionally you turn on the tv or see a YouTube recommendation video sneak by where a prodigy child of just 5 or 7 years old, having so much natural talent in a certain skill you thought you were better at than anybody else. Now this little kid is so much more better and so much younger, that you suddenly feel real bad about yourself. But that prodigy was not just “talented”. It isn’t as if that 9 year old kid who can play Paganini on the violin just woke up one day, picked up the violin and suddenly could play it. That prodigy was taught to play the violin and when it was obvious it had ‘talent’, that talent was nurtured into the prodigy you saw on the Tv. That child has been trained, taught and grown into a prodigy, over time and effort. It might take you absolute YEARS before you get to that level of skill. But you will be better at it in the end of it.
Utilize others who can do better
In my opinion, utilizing others to do the work for you is what keeps the rich rich and the poor very poor. But it also makes sense. Sometimes, you just don’t have the time to do the things you aren’t good at. But you can utilize the people who are. Either by paying them or exchanging services. Together you can achieve your goals quicker and create time for other priorities. If you really think about it, it’s what our society revolves around. Creating progress in science, politics, business and even your own household. By dividing tasks accordingly to skill level, makes life go smoother in the long run for everyone. Leaving time for what you desperately want to achieve.
You are good enough
I myself am very much aware of the dangers of thinking you are never good enough. That someone is always better than you and therefore you will never succeed in what you try to do. Even knowing this is a silly way of thinking, it is still an daily struggle for me. In my case, the fear of failure is so strong, that I freeze up in my work and in life as well. But when those low moments pass, I stand back up and remember that I have to accept my slow learning process. I do not accumulate skills as quick as other people. But I am getting better and that’s what counts.
Just keep in mind, that as that someone might be better than you in one thing. You are better in something than someone else. Work on your weaknesses, work together with those who strengthen those weaknesses. And when you do. Everything will slowly be a little bit better after time. Sometimes you are not good enough now. But perhaps later, you will be good enough.
