Are You Causing Your Own Unhappiness (Part 2 of 4)

In Part 1, we covered how the pursuit of THINGS can cause unhappiness.

Today, we’re looking at how comparison with others can be a Death Trap!

We all want to feel good, be happy. — Captain Obvious!

But, like anything, how we do that can have a good side 😇 and an evil 👿 side.

We all have an ego!

Ego, in psychoanalytic theory, that portion of the human personality which is experienced as the “self” or “I” and is in contact with the external world through perception — https://www.britannica.com/topic/ego-philosophy-and-psychology [Emphasis mine]

This is the second level of happiness: Felix (ego gratification, achievements)

It’s how we perceive ourselves (see above definition) in relation to others.

“I am better than you!” and that makes me happy!

😈 It’s when:

• we feel good about your arch nemesis at school failing a test.
• or you both fail, but you scored higher than them (you both still failed, but we still find a spark of happiness)

😇 It’s when:

• you achieve an award amongst your peers!