Shedding Comparisons: Discovering Your Distinctive Journey
We are constantly bombarded with ideas and standards that surround us. From social media to cultural notes, we live in a society where comparing ourselves to others has become an integral part of our daily lives. Often, we measure our success, shortcomings, and event happiness based on the images we see on the internet, on the streets, or among acquaintances.
However, more often than not, we don’t really know the reality of another person’s life, or whether they align with the “ideal image”.
When we begin to compare ourselves to others, it often leads to negative emotional consequences. We start to feel inadequate, dissatisfied, and even depressed when we perceive the others seem to have it better.
Idealizing other people is a complex process that occurs in our brains and influences our emotional and social perceptions. When we admire or elevate someone, our brain activates emotional response centers such as the amygdala, eliciting positive emotions like admiration, delight, or envy.
This process is often associated with social comparison, where the brain compares us to other people to determine our position in society. As a result of such comparisons, motivation and reward centers may be activated, encouraging us to strive to be like those we idealize.
However, if we believe that we don’t measure up to this ideal, it can evoke feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction with ourselves. Constant comparisons can lead to a decline in self-esteem and an increase in stress levels, and even depression.
Finding your path: practical steps to self-realization
Finding your path in life is a process that requires specific actions and efforts. Here are some practical steps to help you embark on this journey:
Spend Time Alone: Sometimes, to better understand yourself and your desires, it’s necessary to spend some time alone. Take time for reflection, journaling, or simply enjoying solitude to discover what truly matters to you and what you desire at this moment, not necessarily in the future. The key is to listen to your desires.
Experiment with Different Activities: Try out various hobbies, pursuits, or fields of activity to determine what you enjoy doing and where your greatest abilities lie.
Learn About Yourself Through Experience: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or try new things. Every experience is a chance to learn more about yourself and understand what suits you best.
Listen to Your Inner Voice: Don’t ignore your intuitive feelings and inner premonitions. Sometimes, your inner voice can guide you in unexpected directions, even if it seems illogical or surprising.
Engage with Others: Interacting with other people, especially those who have already found their path or are searching for it, can be inspiring and help you gain new ideas and perspectives.
Be Open to Change: The journey to self-awareness and self-realization is a process that can change over time. Be prepared for your path to include different stages and changes, and that’s okay.
Practice Meditation: Incorporate meditation into your daily routine. Meditation can help you find inner peace, clarity of thought, and intuitively understand your true desires and goals.
Practice Visualization: Visualization is a powerful tool for determining and achieving your goals. Set aside time each day to visualize yourself in your desired situation or image. Imagine your goals and dreams in detail, feel them as vividly and realistically as possible. Visualization will not only help you better understand what you want but also support you in achieving your goals, enhancing your motivation and self-belief.
Research shows that we can change the structure and function of our brains depending on our thoughts, experiences, and perceptions. This can lead to changes in the activation of brain regions associated with emotions, self-esteem, and social perception.
And GooseBumps will be your guide in the world of self-awareness and personal growth, offering practical tools and resources for exploring yourself and your desires. Combining modern technology with ancient meditation and visualization practices, the GooseBumps app will help you find inner peace, clarity of thought, and confidence in your abilities.
