Hidden cost of comparison

Affluence, Depression, and the Hidden Cost of Comparison

Marshall Goldsmith recently pointed out that as affluence rises in many parts of the world, so does depression. One major cause? Social comparison.

And it’s true.

In my observation, many affluent individuals are silently battling depression, yet often don’t recognize it.

Why? Because the symptoms are masked by socially accepted coping mechanisms.

Take, for example, constant food delivery, not out of hunger, but habit. The popularity of apps like Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, and Blinkit isn’t just about convenience. It reflects a deeper emotional reliance.

Then there’s the endless consumption of digital content: scrolling through videos, bingeing on OTT platforms, 24/7 news, sports, podcasts, gaming - often at the cost of healthy sleep and real-world engagement.

Some turn to smoking, alcohol, or substance use. Others soothe their inner emptiness with impulsive shopping.

And when lifestyle-related health symptoms begin to show up, many are quick to pop pills. After all, it’s an easy fix , and one they can afford.

But at what cost?

We are now seeing more people in their 30s and 40s fall prey to serious health conditions like heart disease, once thought to affect only older populations.

The root issue goes deeper than lifestyle. It’s the ever-present culture of comparison. Not just between individuals, but collective comparison -  based on religion, language, region, profession, and social identity. We increasingly define ourselves by what we are against, rather than what we are for.

This identification with one side and ridicule of the other is silently eroding mental well-being, and often, we don’t even realize we are caught in its grip.

 

#suswasaSpace – No comparison, only awareness!