When You Feel Like Everyone Else Is Doing Better Than You

You’re scrolling through LinkedIn.
Someone just secured an internship at a top firm.

You open Instagram.
A course mate is celebrating a distinction.

You check your class group chat.
Everyone seems confident about the upcoming exam.

And suddenly, a quiet thought creeps in:

“I’m behind.”
“Everyone else has it figured out.”
“Why am I the only one struggling?”

If you’ve ever felt like everyone else is doing better than you, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re probably wrong.

Let’s unpack why.

The Illusion of “Everyone Else Is Ahead”

Your brain is wired to compare. It constantly scans your environment to evaluate where you stand.

The problem? You’re comparing:

• Your behind-the-scenes
• To someone else’s highlight reel

You see:

• Their achievements
• Their good grades
• Their job offers
• Their confident moments

You don’t see:

• Their self-doubt
• Their rejected applications
• Their late-night stress
• Their family pressure
• Their financial worries

Comparison without context is distortion.

Why You Feel Like You’re Falling Behind

There are psychological reasons this feeling hits so hard.

1. Social Media Amplifies Success

People rarely post:

• Failed interviews
• Low marks
• Panic attacks before presentations

They post milestones.

When you consume a constant stream of curated success, your brain assumes it’s normal, and that you’re the exception.

But you’re seeing edited versions of reality.

2. You Overestimate Others’ Confidence

In lectures or meetings, others may look calm. Articulate. Prepared.

What you don’t hear is their internal monologue:

• “I hope that didn’t sound stupid.”
• “What if I fail this module?”
• “Everyone else seems smarter.”

Confidence is often performance, not certainty.

3. You Tie Achievement to Self-Worth

If you believe:

• Grades define intelligence
• Internships define success
• Productivity defines value

Then every comparison feels personal.

It stops being “They did well” and becomes “I’m not good enough.”

That’s when comparison turns toxic.

4. You’re Measuring Different Timelines

Not everyone moves at the same pace.

Some students:

• Find internships early
• Discover their career path quickly
• Thrive in structured environments

Others:

• Take time to explore
• Change direction
• Build confidence gradually

Different timelines don’t mean different potential.

Signs Comparison Is Affecting You

You might not notice it immediately. But look out for:

• Feeling deflated after scrolling
• Avoiding conversations about grades or careers
• Downplaying your own achievements
• Constantly checking what others are doing
• Thinking, “I’ll never catch up”

If comparison is stealing your motivation, it’s time to challenge it.

The Truth: Most People Feel This Way Too

Here’s what nobody says out loud:

The person you think is “ahead” might be looking at someone else and thinking the same thing.

Comparison is circular.

High achievers feel behind. Quiet students feel invisible. Confident speakers doubt themselves privately.

You are not uniquely inadequate. You are human.

How to Break the Comparison Cycle

You can’t stop your brain from noticing others. But you can change how you respond.

Shift From Comparison to Curiosity

Instead of:

• “They’re better than me.”

Try:

• “What can I learn from them?”

Comparison drains you. Curiosity empowers you.

Track Your Own Progress

When was the last time you acknowledged how far you’ve come?

Write down:

• Skills you’ve improved
• Challenges you’ve overcome
• Feedback you’ve received
• Fears you’ve faced

Progress is easy to ignore because it happens gradually.

But it counts.

Limit Highlight-Reel Consumption

If certain platforms or accounts trigger self-doubt, reduce exposure, especially during exam season or stressful periods.

Your mental health is more important than staying constantly updated.

Redefine What “Doing Better” Means

Is it:

• Higher grades?
• Better internships?
• More leadership roles?

Or could it also mean:

• Better mental health?
• Improved time management?
• Greater resilience?

Success is multidimensional. Don’t reduce it to one metric.

Practise Honest Conversations

When you open up about struggles, something surprising happens:

Other people admit theirs too.

You realise:

• They’re not as certain as they seemed.
• They’re not as ahead as you imagined.
• They’re navigating uncertainty just like you.

Vulnerability dissolves illusion.

If You’re Feeling Stuck Right Now

Maybe you:

• Didn’t get the internship
• Didn’t score as high as you hoped
• Still don’t know your career path

That doesn’t mean you’re behind.

It means you’re in progress.

Careers are long. Growth is nonlinear. And most breakthroughs happen after periods of doubt, not during effortless success.

Focus on Building, Not Proving

When you compare, you try to prove your worth.

When you focus on growth, you build it.

Ask yourself:

• What skill can I improve this month?
• What small step moves me forward?
• What would make me proud, regardless of others?

Compete with your potential, not someone else’s pace.

You’re Seeing a Snapshot, Not the Full Story

When you feel like everyone else is doing better than you, pause.

Remind yourself:

• You’re seeing curated moments.
• You’re not seeing private struggles.
• You’re measuring different timelines.
• You’re growing in ways that aren’t always visible.

Most importantly:

You are not behind in life. There is no universal schedule.

The real race isn’t against your classmates, your friends or strangers online.

It’s against the voice that tells you you’re not enough.

And that voice?

It’s usually wrong.