Their Success is Not Your Failure

It's results time. This week QUT announced the little numbers that seem to make or break my happiness. Okay, that is a little bit of an exaggeration but being an overachiever ensures that my stress levels get a little heightened around this time of year.

I got the marks I expected but nothing to rave about. I worked my bum off and still feel a little underwhelmed, that's the thing about being too hard on yourself.

The sad truth is that I was relatively content with my current GPA until I learned of just how amazing my beautiful friends did. My heart was torn between super proud and selfishly gutted.

I hate that almost immediately I made their success' my own failures.

Why do we do that? Why has society made everything a competition? Why can't we all just be happy for each other?

The reality of the whole thing is that I know I did the best I could. I know I couldn't have tried any harder if someone else pushed me.

I should be happy with that. I should just acknowledge that some people are better at other things because of their different life experiences, talents etc.

I hope to do that. I hope that somewhere in the not so distant future I don't have any selfish tendencies because someone else absolutely nailed their first radio prac and I didn't. I want to be that person that is so beyond proud of everything everyone is else doing and content in my own life that I don't have to compare myself with anyone else.

I hope everyone wants that.

I also want to point out that the grass always looks greener on the other side. Although you may think you are working harder, or pushing yourself further you really have no idea what anyone else is striving to achieve. We can't always step in other people's shoes and appreciate their hard work.

Sometimes it just is what it is. It can suck but hopefully it'll teach you something along the way.

#ashleighdwan #beyondthestory #journalism