this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2023
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No Stupid Questions

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In the last year or so I started to see so many people of my age that have done truly incredible things and still doing more.
For the vast majority of my life my only goals were gettimg academic satisfaction and doing unproductive stuff in the free time to get temporary pleasure. No end goal whatsoever.
I kind of don't know what I've been doing in the last 17 years while someone gets a patent on solar systems, other invents a new recyclable plastic, and another found a successful startup. I mean, they all find what they're supposed to be doing with their lives and excel in them.
I feel overwhelmed for trying to pace up with these kind of people. Yet I don't like the way the things are and I can't do anything but envy those people.
Anyone with experience in this regard? How did you deal with this? Did you eventually "pace up" with these people or was it too late or an unattainable goal?
Edit: Whoops, I didn't expect so many replies! Thanks, I'll look into them all

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[–] rodneylives 29 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Now it's my turn to tell you basically what a lot of people here have already said, but maybe you can get something extra out of this telling.

Everyone who was mega-successful, in old age or young, has had a huge advantage somewhere that people rarely talk about. There are no exceptions to this, only cases where those advantages are lost to time or secrecy. And nearly every time, family wealth is involved in some way. Usually directly, but even if they never got a penny, being in a wealthy family brings you so many casual advantages.

You're comparing yourself to people who were dealt winning hands from the start. Like, a kid who gets a patent at a young age? Someone was coaching them, possibly someone with an agenda. Invents a new plastic? Uh-huh, at what age did they get into polymer chemistry? Who even told them polymer chemistry even existed? There's something else going on there. Don't let the media gaslight you into thinking you're "behind."

It's okay to be you! It's not a race, and even if it was, the people you're comparing yourself to had a gigantic head start.

[–] required 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They had resources, usually from high school, or yes their family led them a bit as well. But the thing is I could have the same resources as well, if I didn't sleep around while choosing my high school. Or even then, I could just go ask around, I'd definitely get something if I woke up and asked everyone around "I want to invent something". Ask on internet literally. I didn't.
It's not "media" in the conventional sense. I just casually asked someone from a good high school what do best students look like.

[–] Baconheatedradiator 5 points 1 year ago

Comparing yourself to others people's accomplishments is never going to end well. It's completely natural for us to do, but if it's not done to achieve inspiration, then it's almost always a negative thought process.

At the end of the day the people you describe are no better than you, their accomplishments don't make them better people. Their accomplishments only have value if you chose to give them that, and in the same token value can be given to things in your life that you might not necessarily deem worthy enough it be an 'accomplishment'.

[–] Cheesewithmold 4 points 1 year ago

If you keep this mindset you'll soon find yourself downplaying your own actual accomplishments. I.e., "Yeah, I got a good grade in that class but only because X." "Yeah, I have a nice job lined up, but only because Y." It's a toxic mindset to have.

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