THE DEBT OF COMPARISON
We scroll. We spend. We forget why.
Social media tells us it’s just “inspiration,” but for a lot of us, it quietly becomes obligation.
When I moved back home to Texas, my whole life felt like it was falling apart—and my feed made it worse.
Post after post, haul after haul, it felt like everyone else was living a life I couldn’t keep up with.
My cart wasn’t full because I needed things; it was full because I was chasing a feeling.
Logging off showed me something I didn’t expect: my peace wasn’t missing—my perspective was.
And once I stepped back, my money stopped disappearing with every swipe.
When Scrolling Starts Costing
Social media is a highlight reel, but when you’re looking at it 25/8, it starts feeling like the whole story. I wasn’t just liking posts; I was quietly auditing my own life against them.
The more I scrolled, the more I spent. Not out of need, but out of comparison. Another Sephora run. Another cup I didn’t need. Another “minimalist” outfit for errands. My “add to cart” habit wasn’t about products—it was about belonging. I wanted people to see what I had and think they knew me from the things I owned.
Logging Off to Look Within
When I finally logged off, I realized how loud everyone else’s wants had become in my head. Without the constant stream of “must-haves,” I could finally hear my own voice.
Suddenly, I didn’t need to stock up on makeup. I didn’t need another Stanley or Owala. I didn’t need a $400 Target outfit just to exist in public. With the noise turned down, I had room to breathe. Space to think. And without even trying, I started saving money—because I wasn’t being told what to crave every five seconds.
Coming Back Different
When I returned to social media, I noticed something: the apps were the same, but I wasn’t. I could scroll past trends and “you need this” videos and feel… nothing. I’d fill carts and then close them without a second thought. It wasn’t rebellion—it was awareness.
Stepping away from the constant comparison reminded me that life doesn’t stop when you log off, and your worth doesn’t rise or fall with what you buy. I learned that peace is found in presence, not in purchases—and that the most expensive thing I’d been paying with wasn’t money. It was my contentment.
Stepping away from the noise gave me perspective. It reminded me that peace is free, and temptation is expensive.
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