Given the choice, would you prefer to be involved in a train wreck or a car wreck? It’s a question I’ve posed to friends and acquaintances, and the responses vary. However, more often than not, someone will respond with, “I don’t want either.” In my view, that’s the wisest answer. Opting to avoid experiencing trauma and pain is a sound and straightforward decision, especially when we consider the physical aspects of such accidents. While it’s impossible to directly compare train wrecks and car wrecks, there are some general differences to consider: train wrecks are typically more public and involve a larger number of people, while car wrecks tend to be less public and affect fewer individuals.
In our reality TV-saturated world, we encounter numerous examples of human “train wrecks.” It seems we’re almost obsessed with finding individuals who appear to be at the lowest point of humanity. It’s a troubling reality that many in the public seem to crave witnessing those who are “worse” off than they are. Depending on personal preferences, one can watch the unfortunate lives of teenage mothers, millionaire’s wives, aspiring youth beauty queens, young cheerleaders, and the list goes on. After just half an hour of watching, it’s easy to feel vastly superior to the person at the center of that “train wreck” of a life.
The issue arises when people who are watching may actually be living a “car wreck” of a life but feel better by comparison. Their life may not be as terrible or as publicly scrutinized as the “train wreck” on the screen. Instead of striving to live the best life possible, we often seem determined to find examples of those who are worse off than us. This comparative mindset serves us little good, especially when those we are comparing ourselves to have set the bar so low.
This tendency isn’t limited to the world of reality television; it extends to the classroom as well. Have you ever felt disappointed about the grade you received on a quiz or test, only to feel better when you notice your neighbor received a lower score? Instead of measuring our potential, we often measure ourselves against what makes us feel comfortable in our current situation. This strategy is unwise, as it leads us to settle for less than our true potential.
So, if you find that your life is in disarray, don’t seek solace in comparing yourself to someone with a worse life. Instead, gather the pieces, tend to your wounds, and get back on the road to self-improvement.
Huryk Unlimited 