Why do people undermine the achievements of others? It’s a phenomenon that’s bugged me for a while now, especially after the global pandemic. Some folks are quick to discredit someone else’s success instead of celebrating it.
There are basically two ways to get ahead in life. The first is to focus on improving your own situation. The second, less admirable route involves trying to bring others down to elevate yourself. Anyone who chooses this second path often ends up dissatisfied, forever envious of those around them. I tend to steer clear of such individuals.
It’s hard to avoid feeling envious at times. We often attribute our own success to hard work while dismissing others’ achievements as mere luck. It’s a bias that’s deeply ingrained.
Take the example of a friend who recently complained about a high school classmate’s success. Despite being a math whiz with a full college scholarship, my friend was irritated because this classmate, who struggled in school and took six years to graduate with a modest GPA, now earns a six-figure salary in IT. It goes to show, sometimes hard work pays off unexpectedly.
Another instance involved someone criticizing a doctor’s earnings. They failed to see the years of study, long hours, and personal sacrifices it took to reach that level. The critic didn’t seem to grasp the dedication required for such a career.
Even in the blogging world, where success can feel more accessible, there’s still plenty of negativity. Some bloggers belittle others’ achievements rather than focusing on improving their own content and revenue streams.
Why do people do this so often? Perhaps it’s human nature to compare ourselves to others, but it’s not always constructive. Instead of letting jealousy cloud our judgment, we could use others’ successes as motivation to achieve our own goals.
As we reflect on our independence, let’s consider why we feel the need to discredit others when success often comes down to individual effort. It’s better to concentrate on improving ourselves rather than begrudging others their success.
