To feel superior is to feel inferior
To want to be “better” is to risk being “worse”
Growth is inextricably linked with insecurity
If you want to win over others — you are also preparing to lose with others
Can you see?
Any time you harbour this pleasing thought of being superior at something, of being better, of doing better — you’re also creating the fact, the though, the reality of being inferior, worse,
The only way to NOT compare unfavourably is to NOT COMPARE period
You can’t compare exclusively favourably
And this is why if you’re feeling insecure — no amount of success and validation and fame can fill that hole
It only gets larger
You’re only creating MORE ways in which to be inadequate
And you’re only acquiring more things you’d wish NOT to lose — thus only taking greater burden upon yourself
If you feel bad about yourself as compared to the world — the ONLY thing to do about it is to COMPLETELY ACCEPT IT — and utterly let go of it
Is this to say we should be complacent?
Obviously not
The REAL GAME is about YOU and ONLY you
It’s you getting something because you WANT IT — not because it would make you COMPARE favourably
I already said — you can’t compare favourably
For every advantageous comparison — you look like SHIT in comparison to something else
That is an utterly futile game
And the world doesn’t give a fuck about you anyway
The only real game is to GET WHAT YOU WANT
Is to DO BETTER FOR YOUR OWN SAKE
It’s also the only REAL GAME
Because only THAT you truly control
You don’t control the others
You only control you
For every prideful though
For every hostile thought
For every conceited though
You pay the tax
You pay the tax of feeling inadequate, inferior, self-conscious
Instead
just focus on how you can DO BETTER TODAY
Build something amazing
Challenge yourself with it, make it bigger than the last time
Don’t show it to anyone. You’re doing it for you
Now pour yourself some wine and behold your great work
Experience the deep joy of having been creative, of having WILLED your vision to existence, of having had the POWER to see to it taking shape, under your own hands
THIS is the game to play
When you play that game — you’ve no time for being superior or inferior or any of that fucking nonsense