Stop counting other peoples’ money

You need to stop worrying about what everybody else does or has.

Too many people waste time making ZERO progress in their own lives because they are too busy counting other peoples’ money.

They look at their neighbours’ house, their friends’ new car, the guy or girl on Instagram with the 18 abs.

“Have you heard Dave and Dawn are off to the Italian lakes again? They must be raking it in!”

Guess what happens to people who spend their time counting other peoples money or successes? They end up comparing themselves against the best bits of everybody else and it makes them feel miserable – and they lose the game!

Here’s what you need to realise; you only see what other people want you to see. You only see the highlights and you only see the superficial stuff.

You don’t see the sacrifices they have made. You don’t see the risks they’ve taken. You don’t see the debt, you don’t see the 80 hour working weeks and you don’t see the broken relationships either.

You have no idea whether or not they lay their head on the pillow at night truly at peace with themselves – and with the world around them.

You don’t know if they are truly in love with their spouse or whether they crave more love from their spouse.

You don’t know if they secretly hate their job and feel like a prisoner of their salary, or that every morning as they drive to work they can barely swallow due to the anxiety that has slowly tightened its grip en-route.

You don’t know if they’ve max’d out every single credit card and consequently spend every waking minute worrying about how the hell they are going to get out of this mess.

No, all you see is the good stuff.

So, you compare yourself against some kind of ‘Frankenstein’s monster’, made up of all the best bits of everybody else.

Perspective

I recently asked a well-travelled client where his favourite place in the world was. He slowly raised his arm and pointed up to the mantlepiece where sat a picture of his late wife and he said, “Sat next to her”.

That, my friends, is something to envy, because that is real.

The truth

Most people are massively self-conscious, they have huge self-esteem issues, their egos are fragile and many of them are – quite frankly, full of shit. Remember that!

But let’s assume that Dave and Dawn do live in a nice house, they do have a nice car, they both have great jobs with gorgeous kids and they all love each other dearly.

You don’t see what they give up!

You ignore the fact that they are still working whilst you are binge watching ‘The Walking Dead’ or at the gym.

You don’t know that they are saving their money by batching up meals for the week whilst you’re sipping your 2^nd Costa of the day.

All you are concerned about is a surface level evaluation of their inventory because you think that you work harder than everybody else or that life has thrown you a bad hand.

Regardless, all you are doing is making yourself feel like shit.

Quit counting other people’s money.

Comparing yourself to other people is a waste of time. Because they are not you.

The more time and energy you spend on being concerned with other peoples’ situations, the less time and energy you have on making the best of your own.

If you are to compare yourself to anyone, be it yourself from 12 months ago – are you a better person? What have you learnt? Where have you been? What did you do? Who did you meet?

Let me know…