All living things derive their essential energy from the environment – the vital food and liquid are absorbed. These inventories are distributed internally and used for different tasks during operation. As soon as the stocks fall below a certain degree of filling, the renewed supply of energy is inevitable and the cycle starts all over again. The required quantity is determined by the size of the body, the number of consumption points and the desired power. For deposits that are currently not needed stocks are created, which are extracted, if there is no immediate supply from the outside. These buffers also require energy to remain available. There are mechanisms, such as the feeling of satiety, that regulate the exaggerated intake. However, today we live in an organized world of abundance. Innate sensations of satiety are getting lost. And when we additionally compare ourselves with others, it pushes us beyond the limits of what is needed.
Thus comparisons are harmful for a balanced energy intake. Let’s take a look at three such areas.
- Possession
The easiest thing to compare are physical possessions – my houses, my planes, my boats, my cars. The 0.1% of the world population own 80% of the financial assets. However, these assets are in the virtual space. All that it takes to evaporate these values is a sufficiently large crisis. The more than 99% then lose, but only their part of the remaining 20%, which are distributed over almost seven billion people. With 5 trillion Euros of assets worldwide, this means that 34.5 trillion Euros are distributed over approx. 7 billion people, i.e. on average per capita assets 4,500 Euros of the 7 billions versus 18,000,000 Euros of the 0.1%. - Reputation
A study from the US shows that well-being does not increase any further beyond an annual income of US$ 75,000. If material things are no longer important, then recognition, appreciation and reputation offer a good opportunity to compare oneself with others. The reputation results from outstanding scientific contributions, from a special moral standing or a passionate image as well as from an extraordinary social engagement. A good example is philanthropy, private welfare, which has evolved especially where the state does not assume any responsibility. To make these comparisons visible, there are corresponding lists. - Performance
Benchmarking can be carried out in all areas and strata of the population – e.g. financially, professionally, spiritually, mentally, physically, in partnership, emotionally, and artistically. The development to road panzer was certainly fueled by the neighborly competition for the largest. The rivalries in professional life begin, when one compares the own progress with that of others and their advancement in the first job. The fervor of one’s own faith is defined through regular participation in religious rituals and engagement of missionary work of dissenters, so that one stands in the line for salvation before the competitors. Or let’s take as a last example any kind of physical fitness which puts, through regular training, your own body in a better shape than that of your acquaintances.
Bottom line: The comparison is an essential accelerant for the competition in all areas of life. A certain amount of competition is helpful in overcoming one’s weaker self. However, the various driving forces have no point of satiation, which leads individuals to exaggerate. These zealots are not happy with what they possess, represent or perform. The result are the excesses that generate extremism in all areas. The triggers are predominantly the everyday benchmarks that drive us forward consciously or unconsciously – Comparisons that over-do.
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