Wait, wait. Keeping up with the joneses? What does it mean actually. If you google it, you may see a name of a movie and it's poster. But believe me, I not not here to talk about a movie. It's more than this cause deep inside most of us are suffering from this disease. The whole article would enlighten you and then you can judge yourself.
I am not sure if you are familiar with it or not but 'KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES' is actually a phrase. It means to copy people, desire to have same things as them. In other word, it like a competition between people over social status. And in the end it becomes a hunger, grasp you and finally become a mental disorder.
We live in a society with lots of people. But we have to keep in mind that we are not gifted with same amount of asset and yes there will be gap between people. But when people are suffering from this, they want to have same thing that his neighbour, colleague, friends own. Like you have a top model fridge but your friend has bought a double door fridge. Now you have a hunger for a double door fridge too. Hope the thing is pretty much clear now.
But why I am saying it's a mental disease. It's good to have competition between people. Think again. It's not a competition. What is competition? When you are given the same opportunity and with those opportunities you make the best use of them with your skill and strategy. But here, sometimes you look so far that you forget what you can afford and just run after things. In the end, this hunger begets you.
Here, I am not gonna say these material things are only included here. When you see someone is having a good hobby but you are not, or seeing someone is having an affair and you want to keep up with them, it's a part of it too. Not only it, your son's/daughter's position is behind your neighbour's son's/daughter's position in class and you are forcing them to go beyond their limits and beating them, that's a part of keeping up with the joneses too. It's everywhere in our life.
What does it cost actually? When a person enter in this dark illness, he forgets his current economic condition. There's no such word called savings in these peoples life. As a result, when any argent situation appears like someone close is sick and needs a lot of money for operation, they can't provide. And also any good chance appears, they got no money left to grab the chance. Sometimes they can not maintain the family and there's always a problem with the family member. Some people are so lost that they create a lot of debt and in the end can't pay off the. Then the lose all the things they bought to keep up with the community and sometimes they lost their valuable properties. If the person doesn't have anything left, he has to get away or they suicide to get of it and creates problems for family members.
And no hasty decisions are good. Some people take hasty decisions to make friends and girlfriends and in the end they suffer because of bringing wrong people in life. Also that damages one's social image. In other case, when you are pressurising your kid to keep up with the other kids, that creates a lot of pressure for him and in the end they also become sick. Their daily life activities are hampered, they get engaged with bad deeds and it also destroys relationship between parents and child.
And when you are running after something, that obviously destroys your own creativity. Like you are a good artist but your friend is a good singer. Now you are trying to surpass him and in the end you lose you time, couldn't sing well and lack of practice can destroy your drawing skill. Another example is following friends and getting addicted with drugs to become cool.
So, I think it's almost clear why I called it a illness. But it's everywhere in our life and how to get rid of it. Very simple. You believe in yourself. No hasty decisions and think before you leap. You have to understand your ability, what you can do and what you can't. Happiness is a relative things. It may seems but it's not related with a lot of properties. A standard life can bring you lot's of happiness if you have a good job, good family, decent friends and satisfied lifestyle.
Besides, don't put too much preasure on your child to become the best. Support, encourage and abuse is whole different thing and I guess every parents should understand it. Every child has something good. Try to encourage them for rxpressing those abilities and don't bend their talents and put on something on their shoulder to fulfil your wish. I believe they will be able to successful in their own way if get get enough support and encouragement from you.
In the end, I am gonna say, try to appreciate other's success. Your time will come.
Thanks for reading. I hope all will like it. Thank you for your support.
So it had a name too I thought jealousy was just innate to human nature