When You Chase Their Life, You Abandon Your DHARMA
Shivika Gupta | Apr 11, 2025, 18:19 IST
There was a time when you were clear about what you wanted. Your path felt personal, sacred—even if no one else understood it. But somehow, along the way, you started looking sideways. At their careers. Their weddings. Their startup launches. Their aesthetics. And before you knew it, your vision—once steady and self-defined—became blurry. You didn’t lose your way. You just looked away. And in this world of infinite scrolling and subtle comparisons, that’s easier than we’d like to admit.
The Invisible Weight of Constant Comparison
Comparison isn’t just a modern problem—it’s a modern epidemic. Especially for millennials, who came of age in a world that sold us both dreams and deadlines.
We were told:
That impossible duality is hard enough on its own. But throw in social media, and suddenly we’re bombarded with curated perfection. The girl who started a business at 22. The guy who just bought a flat in Bandra. The couple who travel full-time and still save. You don’t just compare what you have—you compare how fast you got it. And when that happens, your personal milestones start to feel like delayed deliveries. You start to rush. You start to panic. You forget that life is not a race—it’s a rhythm.
Here’s the most dangerous part about comparison:
It doesn’t show up as envy. It shows up as confusion. It convinces you:
You start shifting your plans—not because you’ve evolved—but because you’re trying to “catch up.” But catch up to what? A version of success that wasn’t even yours? That’s how dreams die quietly. Not with rejection, but redirection. Because you let other people’s timelines make you question your own.
How do you know you’ve strayed from your own path?
It’s subtle at first, but here are some red flags:
1.You feel disconnected from your own wins.
You check things off your list, but they don’t feel satisfying.
2. You keep changing directions.
Every time someone else shines in a new field, you feel like switching.
3. You feel low after scrolling
.Not because you’re lazy, but because everyone else seems ahead.
4. You’re constantly asking, “Am I doing enough?”
Even when your plate is full, your heart feels empty.
5. You can’t hear your own voice anymore.
Because it’s buried under the noise of everyone else’s life updates.
So how do you come back to yourself? How do you remember your original path—the one that felt right, even when no one clapped for it?
1. Mute to Heal, Not to Hate
It’s not petty to mute people on social media—it’s powerful. You’re allowed to protect your energy. Mute the accounts that trigger you, not because they’re wrong, but because you’re healing.
2. Go Analog with Your Vision
Write down your goals, dreams, and why they mattered to you before comparison crept in. Touch your “why.” Reconnect with the original version of you who believed in those dreams without needing proof.
3. Create Without Posting
Do things for joy—not for likes. Dance in your room. Take photos you don’t upload. Journal without filters. You were never meant to turn your entire life into content.
4. Redefine Success for Yourself
Strip it down:
When your definition of success aligns with your values, comparison fades.
Coming back to your path isn’t always a big decision. Sometimes, it’s tiny, sacred choices:
The world won’t always celebrate your slow pace. But your soul will. Comparison kills joy because it pulls you into someone else’s arena. It makes you doubt your magic. It makes you abandon your calling. But your life doesn’t need to look like theirs to be meaningful. It just needs to feel aligned.
You don’t need a rebrand. You don’t need to pivot every time someone else shines. You need to come back home—to your rhythm, your truth, your quiet pace. Because the truth is, you never really lost your path. You just got distracted by someone else’s spotlight.
Now’s the time to return. To walk again—slowly, softly, surely—in the direction of your own becoming.
Eyes on your own lane. Heart in your own hands. That’s where peace lives.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!
The Invisible Weight of Constant Comparison
( Image credit : Freepik )
We were told:
- Chase your passion—but have a backup plan.
- Hustle hard—but stay balanced.
- Be successful—but also authentic, aesthetic, and mentally well.
How Comparison Silently Hijacks Your Vision
How Comparison Silently Hijacks Your Vision
( Image credit : Freepik )
Here’s the most dangerous part about comparison:
It doesn’t show up as envy. It shows up as confusion. It convinces you:
- Maybe you should want what they want.
- Maybe your goals aren’t enough.
- Maybe you’re behind and don’t even realize it.
Signs You’ve Lost Sight of Your Own Path
Signs You’ve Lost Sight of Your Own Path
( Image credit : Freepik )
How do you know you’ve strayed from your own path?
It’s subtle at first, but here are some red flags:
1.You feel disconnected from your own wins.
You check things off your list, but they don’t feel satisfying.
2. You keep changing directions.
Every time someone else shines in a new field, you feel like switching.
3. You feel low after scrolling
.Not because you’re lazy, but because everyone else seems ahead.
4. You’re constantly asking, “Am I doing enough?”
Even when your plate is full, your heart feels empty.
5. You can’t hear your own voice anymore.
Because it’s buried under the noise of everyone else’s life updates.
Reclaiming Your Pace & Purpose
Reclaiming Your Pace & Purpose
( Image credit : Freepik )
So how do you come back to yourself? How do you remember your original path—the one that felt right, even when no one clapped for it?
1. Mute to Heal, Not to Hate
It’s not petty to mute people on social media—it’s powerful. You’re allowed to protect your energy. Mute the accounts that trigger you, not because they’re wrong, but because you’re healing.
2. Go Analog with Your Vision
Write down your goals, dreams, and why they mattered to you before comparison crept in. Touch your “why.” Reconnect with the original version of you who believed in those dreams without needing proof.
3. Create Without Posting
Do things for joy—not for likes. Dance in your room. Take photos you don’t upload. Journal without filters. You were never meant to turn your entire life into content.
4. Redefine Success for Yourself
Strip it down:
- What makes you feel proud, even in private?
- What kind of life feels peaceful—not just impressive?
- Who are you when no one’s watching?
The Slow Magic of Returning to Yourself
The Slow Magic of Returning to Yourself
( Image credit : Freepik )
Coming back to your path isn’t always a big decision. Sometimes, it’s tiny, sacred choices:
- Sleeping early instead of scrolling late
- Saying no to things that dilute your time
- Following curiosity instead of clout
- Trusting your timing—even when it’s quiet
Come Back Home to Yourself
Come Back Home to Yourself.
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
You don’t need a rebrand. You don’t need to pivot every time someone else shines. You need to come back home—to your rhythm, your truth, your quiet pace. Because the truth is, you never really lost your path. You just got distracted by someone else’s spotlight.
Now’s the time to return. To walk again—slowly, softly, surely—in the direction of your own becoming.
Eyes on your own lane. Heart in your own hands. That’s where peace lives.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!