Anxiety regarding other people's achievement?

[ProNine]

Ok, so one mild form of anxiety I have is a constant worry and nervousness of the fact that people will surpass me and achieve great things, all while I'm still stuck here living my boring life. This really keeps me awake at times and worries me, because I do not want my life to count for nothing. The simple fact of sticking to a 8-5 job 5 times a week scares me as it feels I will not get anywhere and will not be happy. Anyone else experiences similar thoughts and ideas? How do you deal with them and what would you do if you were in my place?

 

[sydney1237]

This post actually hits home for me because I go to a pretty prestigious high school where it seems like every other kid in my class has already done so much, like travelled around Europe, founded an organization, or is a tri-varsity athlete. I often compare myself to others, and I think it can become very unhealthy. After a while I realized that my "success" and accomplishments do not amount to my self-worth, and that it is ok to just be happy with yourself. If you don't want to work an 8-5 job, then take the opportunities to make sure you don't go that route. Find things you enjoy and build on them, rather than doing things you hate but are good at. Everyone is good at something, and it's ok to not be good at everything! Just try to be more confident in what you have done/can do, and focus on improving yourself however you want, rather than focusing on what you're not great at/you don't love.

 

[joshposh]

I'm at the end of that stage right now. So I know what you are going through. There's always going to be a fear of where you are and how others have surpassed you.


Ten years ago I took a coaching job and thinking back at it, I shouldn't off. It actually hindered my personal and career goal as coaching took all of my free time. I was investing more onto others and not in my own endeavors. Years gone by and I was still coaching and I can never take those years back. As those that were my age had progressed more while I was still coaching and putting time into other peoples growth. It was a good experience, but it left me several years behind everyone else my own age, and it was depressing when I retired from coaching.


You going to have to learn acceptance. Accept what you can't change and focus on where you need to be and plan from there. I'm sure you have heard it from other people. But take it from a person that's been there. I regret a lot, but I just have to accept what I got, and move on from there. It's not the end of the world and there is still time to do great things in this world. Life is suppose to be a journey and not a full time job.

 

[alexdanvers]

I try to remind myself that I've achieved something. The fact that I haven't given up on life and stayed alive despite my anxiety being very life interrupting, is an achievement. An achievement of staying strong, something that maybe others might do easily, but since it's a struggle for me, that makes me feel like I've accomplished something. Avoid comparing yourself to others and focus on what you have accomplished even if it's the simplest thing. Because success is not measured on quantity but quality. Maybe others accomplish so many things but with fake determination. Try to put your best in everything you do because that's what your achievement and you a lot more valuable.

 

[amy88]

I think that's a very real worry that a lot of people have - especially these days with social media, when we're comparing our lives to everyone else's, and it seems like no one else ever has a bad day (because no one really posts the negative stuff!!)


When I have gotten too anxious when comparing my life to others, I've had to step away from social media for a while - to be honest that's the biggest thing that seems to help me.

 

[DDNatureLover]

I can definitely understand this feeling, especially when one is young. I went through this stage and was pretty competitive at that point in my life. I've had to give up on some things due to physical and therefore financial limitations, and for the most part, I've learned to stop comparing myself to others. That's not to say it's not sometimes difficult to see others posting about their accomplishments on social media, or hearing they or their parents bragging about it, especially since I know my situation will never be what I once hoped it would be, but I'm learning to re-define success, and hopefully someday that will be enough.