From Comparison to Gratitude: A Morning of Realization
A profound insights on wealth, success, and the power of gratitude.
I was sitting in an auto rickshaw, my favorite mode of transportation, heading to the office on a usual weekday morning. The past few weeks had been particularly gruelling, and I found myself bogged down with work pressures.
I couldn’t shake off the questions that had been nagging at me: Why do we work so much? What is the end goal? Is it money? And if so, how much do we really need? Would a large safety net make everything better?
As we navigated through the bustling streets, my eyes wandered to a flashy poster on the left. It featured Anil Kapoor, a beloved Bollywood star, hosting the popular show Big Boss on an OTT platform. Thoughts of wealth and success swirled in my mind. The rich seem to keep getting richer, I mused. If I has travelled different roads, made choices that were more conventional, would I have been happier?
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” — Theodore Roosevelt
I could not believe that I was falling prey to “Social Comparison Bias” where we evaluate ourselves based on how we stack up against others, often leading to feelings of inadequacy. This was never a problem I had. Was I finally succumbing to the social norms, I wondered?
A Humbling Perspective
My gaze shifted to the right, where I saw a stark contrast. A tractor was pulling a large, open carrier filled with men and women, packed tightly in neat rows and columns.
They were exposed to the elements, resembling goods in transit rather than human beings. The sight struck me deeply, and suddenly, my auto rickshaw felt like a luxurious haven in comparison.
I spend close to 500 rupees a day on my commute, an amount these people could scarcely dream of spending on a daily basis on travel. As I was on my way to an air-conditioned office, surrounded by kind colleagues for the next ten hours, these individuals were heading to labor under the scorching sun.
This profound shift in perspective reminded me:
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Aesop
This quote encapsulates the essence of the gratitude bias, which encourages us to focus on what we have rather than what we lack.
The “Raga Pahadi” playing on YouTube in my earbuds suddenly sounded more cheerful. It was a poignant reminder that wealth is truly a matter of perspective.
Redefining Success and Wealth
In that moment, my heart filled with gratitude for the comforts I often take for granted. The auto rickshaw ride, the air-conditioned office, the company of good people, and the beautiful music — these are my luxuries. And they are more than enough.
I realized that perhaps the true measure of success isn’t just the number in our bank accounts or the status symbols we collect. It’s the simple comforts, the moments of peace, and the joy in knowing that we are enough, just as we are.
The people in that tractor, with their lives of hard work and resilience, reminded me that true wealth lies in our perspective and the gratitude we hold in our hearts.
As the traffic blurred past, I felt a deep sense of clarity. It’s not the amount of money or the safety net we build that truly matters. It’s the way we live our lives, the compassion we show, and the appreciation we have for the simple things. I found a peace that had been elusive for far too long.
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Albert Schweitzer
It was a reminder that true success comes from finding joy in our daily lives and being grateful for the blessings we already have.
P.S. This isn’t something new or unknown to us. So, why write about it? Because I’ve realized that when the going gets tough, we need reminders of the basics. And to let you know that you’re not alone — we all go through this from time to time.
