“If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons that yourself.” Max Ehrmann – Desiderata
Every time I read this I think that Ehrmann left out something. Yes, comparing myself to a “greater person” is likely to cause me to be envious, to “become vain and bitter.” “I can’t _____ like _____ “ thoughts could do that. But generally, I rationalize that away and convince myself that if I put the effort into _____ that _____ puts into it, I might be able to. After all, I could learn to paint, to sing well, be a scratch golfer, but I just haven’t put the effort into it. (I know these are not likely true, but they COULD be.)
But what it seems to me that Ehrmann left out is, I think, the effects of the greater risk – that of comparing myself to “lesser persons.” That can cause me to become prideful and arrogant – or, as the case may be, more prideful and arrogant.
So there it is. Comparing myself to others leads to “vain and bitter” or prideful and arrogant. It occurs to me that Ehrmann is correct – Best not to compare.
It occurs to me... 