“A backward glance can always lift the heart.” – Dante (The Divine Comedy)

We are often told to “count our blessings” to find more happiness, joy, and satisfaction in life. I would say it’s more effective to “consider all the people who are less fortunate than us, people dying of disease, enduring war, and exile.”

In life, we generally look ahead of ourselves, and we feel shitty, because we feel “unsuccessful” compared to others who are richer, more influential, and more “fortunate” than ourselves.

However a more effective strategy is to look behind ourselves, as Seneca tells his friend Lucilius in his letters:

Don’t look ahead and feel envy of all those who are ahead of you. Instead, look behind you and see all the other people you’re far ahead of; and all those others who are behind you who would love to be in your shoes!

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Generally speaking in modern society, we always feel inadequate because we’re envious of the people ahead of us. We feel small and dwarfed from the achievements of those who we perceive as greater than us.

However the truth is this:

Everyone feels inadequate when comparing themselves to others.

For example Horace said the soldier is envious of the life of the farmer, whereas the farmer is envious of the soldier. And not only that, but shoe makers are envious of other shoe makers, kings are envious of other kings, and (in my society) rappers are envious of other rappers.

When it comes to money, we are always envious of those who are richer than us. We fantasize about how much “happier” we would be if we were in their shoes. But this is often a fallacy; the rich and influential are often more miserable than us. They have no privacy, freedom over their schedule; most rich CEOs cannot even take a nap when they want to!

It’s human nature to envy. In some ways, the spirit of envy and competition is good, because it pushes us to aspire to greatness. For myself, I am inspired by great individuals in history such as Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Kanye West. In some ways, I’m envious of their dedication to their craft, their ambition, hustle, and appetite for risk and following their own voice. But rather than letting my envy turn into poison, I make it into a delightfully bitter (and bright) espresso, which stimulates me to achieve greatness!

In the world today there’s more than 6 billion people on planet Earth less fortunate than you. If you have access to the internet, own a smartphone, and don’t go to sleep hungry at night, consider yourself blessed.

I’m not discouraging you from being ambitious or having heroes in life. What I’m saying is this:

Don’t let envy of more successful people discourage you.

Instead, let the success of others motivate, inspire, and uplift you!

Life is too short for bitterness and pettiness. Life is more fun when we are chasing dangerous, adventurous, and challenging tasks. When we break social molds and pave our own “crazy” paths in life.

You have the ability to do great things. Why squander your potential?

Look behind you, and consider all the people less successful than you. Acknowledge yourself of your accomplishments in life.

But stay hungry and foolish, and never stop marching ahead, to new peaks, new apexes, and new zeniths in life!

NEVER STOP CLIMBING!

ERIC