We live in a world that constantly tells us peace will come when the chaos quiets, joy will come when we succeed, and contentment will come when we finally have enough. But what if those promises are empty echoes? What if true peace, lasting joy, and deep contentment aren’t about what we attain, but how we live and who we live for?

Great words by Theodore Roosevelt. We live in a world obsessed with comparison. Social media, workplace evaluations, even casual conversations—all are riddled with phrases like better than, worse than, more successful, less talented, faster, slower, stronger, weaker. These comparative terms subtly shape our mindset, often leaving us feeling either inadequate or superior. Neither outcome is healthy.

I dislike comparative language because it shifts our focus away from personal growth and gratitude. Instead of appreciating where we are, we fixate on where we aren’t. Instead of celebrating others, we measure ourselves against them. Comparison creates an invisible scoreboard where we’re constantly ranking ourselves, but there’s no actual finish line—just exhaustion and discontent.