Mental Cost of Living: Unfiltered Reality vs. Online Illusion 🤳🧠

• Constant comparison to curated, 'perfect' lives on social media (often filtered and edited) creates an invisible pressure to "perform happiness" and leads to self-judgment. • This feeling of inadequacy extends to public figures (CEOs, entrepreneurs), whose private struggles (e.g., burnout, family issues, mental health battles) are unseen behind the successful brand and glamorous lifestyle. • Psychologically, perpetual comparison activates the inner critic, fueling dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. • Research shows frequent comparers are more prone to envy and resentment, stuck in a loop of "chasing but never arriving." • Key Takeaway: The article stresses that true self-worth comes from effort and sincerity, not applause or validation. Mental health is about building an authentic relationship with the true self, choosing peace over performance, and honesty over perfection. • Success has no universal timeline; value lies in how one shows up quietly, honestly, and courageously even when no one is watching.