Psychology. Your appearance, your relationship... Is it normal to constantly compare yourself to others?

Do you find yourself less attractive than your cousin? Do you feel that others are happier or more successful professionally than you? Comparing yourself to others is natural.

This helps you situate yourself in a given context. And even motivate yourself to be better in a sport or at work. But it should stop there.

Because "constantly comparing yourself to others - generally to see that you are less of this or more of that - reveals above all a lack of self- confidence and self-esteem," explains Sophie Maretto, a psychologist in Paris.

“Comparing ourselves to others excessively speaks more to ourselves and our own fears,” she continues. “I’m afraid of not succeeding in my job, of not finding love, of not being happy. And, overall, of not ‘being enough.’”

The main risk: "developing jealousy , envy and resentment, which paralyzes. We then risk missing out on our own lives," she warns.

Social media is accentuating the trend

For several years now, the widespread use of social media has further encouraged comparisons with others. Indeed, in a society based on image and appearances, young people—and those not so young—are exposed to the lives of others.

Worse, it's about the lives of others, but under an illusion of perfection. Because very often, what people reveal on their profiles only reflects part of the reality. "The illusion that others have perfect lives exposes us to living vicariously," warns Sophie Maretto. But "perfection doesn't exist," she reminds us.