I have already mentioned the school, government and the society in general. Yet there is one, specific kind of people who deliberately, all the time, is promoting comparison among people. What is more, they use it on the subconsciousness level. Who are they?
Each business entity, using commercials, may appeal to comparison. Notice sales trick, manipulating your decisions. It is especially seen in seasonal branches of the economy, where fashion rules and people can be easily influenced by trends. Check yourself what reasons are given to convince you of the purchase… even if it is not necessary. Let’s say you have already bought a pair of shoes or a coat for winter. But they will suggest that in this season yours is awkward and therefore you must buy the new one.
Here are two the most common tricks, used by the most skilled sellers. Manipulative codes, carefully decrypted by the skilled winners, yet easily swollen by the majority of people. The first is “Everybody is wearing, using… it”. In between you can hear “You are worse not wearing, using…it in the way we recommend”. Like in the example with your winter clothes, described above.
The second trick is just a pure comparison – an attack on your values and tastes. For example what is modern is better, buying the luxury means you’re rich, using a product x means progress, the products from health shops are not reliable and efficient medications. Take the winner’s inspiration book and note some more examples. Then think how big impact these statements have on you. You will see how toxic codes these statements contain.
Remember, they are often indirect, shown by promotion of desired (by a given business or its lobby) behaviors. Check the Acts being currently discussed and already ratified – what kinds of values, behaviors do they promote and which are seen as undesirable? What codes can you find there?
That is the one side of the medal – the direct influence on your decisions. Yet you can turn off the TV, dump the spam from your mail (also the real one) or forbid the company to call you with “promotional offers”. Happy enough? Not really. Social work is even more dangerous. The companies or their lobby use another technique: other people who seem to be an authority for you. Turning off your TV is fine yet if you can her your friends talking about an x product, what will you do then?
If you, yourself don’t listen to them – the persuaders will find and use someone who will be doing what they recommend. For every sake, just to prove their product or idea is correct and yours not. Even if the “doctor” or an “insurance broker” has never done their profession. The media is the backside of each corporation, writing articles according to their needs. And the more fuss around a given topic, the more probable is that it is boosted remotely by a lobby or an organization.
What can you do then? Check the expertise of the ‘authority” used. if a commercial x says you that a doctor y recommends or uses z – check at least ten different experts and ask at least ten your friends what they think of the “product”. Usually, the more intense the campaign, the more suspicious is the “theory” and the less reliable the “experts”. Another question you can ask is: “Who I am I living for – the corporations or myself?” (even if they do their best to convince you to the first option).
Of course, you will find another obstacle here, the manipulative code “Everybody is doing so. If you don’t you are odd”. Well, you need to choose a rat race or a pioneering and sole climbing or sailing. It may be easier to work within a group yet the greatest ideas were created by the individuals, often acting against the majority. and even if they paid the highest price for their attitude – it was them, not the mob, remembered for ages.
You will not avoid comparison by others, as there are people who want it for every sake. The more prominent winner you want to be, the more criticism and comparison you will encounter. Yet you can do your best to develop an attitude of comparing with… yourself. Even if someone achieved more in a given field of life, you don’t know his inner self, and what is behind this “success”. It may turn out that their victory is just a show-out, while the truth is totally different.
Good luck. Share your opinion with us under this post. Have a nice day.
