In the 1950s, a social psychologist named Leon Festinger developed something called social comparison theory. The idea behind it was, in essence, that humans look to comparisons with others in order to develop an identity. Human beings are intrinsically wired for connection, and comparing ourselves to those around us helps us to form attachments and acceptance. But fast forward fifty or so years to the advent of social media, and what once was a natural impulse to connect is now a full-blown mental health crisis. We escape into our screens and look at the curated photos of other people's lives, imagining how much happier we'd be if we had that kitchen, that haircut, that vacation…
Social comparison is just one example of the myriad distractions that pull us out of the present—and away from ourselves—on any given day. Modern life not only moves at an impossible pace but is chock full of infinite stimuli, seemingly geared at solving every one of our problems with a quick fix. But it's a bottomless pit of seeking, a vicious cycle that always leads back to the same place: You. Right here and right now.