Turned out that 2 days before that, I had bumped into social media videos of an old friend. He had just launched new outlets for his business. Buzzing out of that video was his wife & children driving out of the garage of their new house. It was honest congrats from me to him.

Unbeknownst to me, a comparative scale had settled on a corner of my mind. Without my mental permission, it was calibrating my own growth outputs with this my friend's - who we were both in dirt ground, a couple of years ago. Point blank insinuating I'm not doing well enough.

It tools 2 extra days before it manifested into a cloud of sadness. Then, I knew what it was. Even the most guarded & mentally aware of us, can fall prey to the evil of discontentment. For a lot of people, they eventually ride down this slide into unchecked envy.

Immediately I figured the source, I activated the antidote - gratitude. Asked myself: "Where were you 5 years ago? Where are you today?" "Granted there are hundreds of your friends doing better than you, forget the people you're definitely doing better than - are you better?"

I went ahead to make a list of 100 things I'm grateful for. I exhausted 3 sheets. I instantly witnessed a reverse in mood. From relatively sad to extremely grateful. In my personal life, these mental events are a normal because I'm always evaluating & recalibrating but -

I wanted to share this supposed private moment with you. Unfortunately, because of the advent of the internet - you'll always be in view of people doing everything you'd never think you'd do. Be careful of what creeps into your soul. Comparison is the thief of joy.

The design of the internet is to amplify - and everyone only shows you what they want you to see. You don't know people's journey or processes. You know yours. You should be your only metric for evaluating your growth. Be conscious of what creeps into your soul.

@UnkleAyo Comparison is the thief of joy.

@UnkleAyo This act of gratitude we don't take seriously in this part of the world and it's why so many of us are full of envy and sadness... If we try to reflect on how far we've come rather than that of others, we'd be contented and happy. Just make sure you're better today than yesterday

@UnkleAyo Thanks for sharing UnkleAyo, I cry myself to sleep many nights with this same feeling of inadequacy . Gratitude truly is the best antidote. I many times bury myself in work to forget all the hurt in my heart🥹, it’s really hard NGL 😭

@UnkleAyo I've gone down the road a number of times. Takes a certain level of consciousness to always recognize the things to be grateful for. Don't ever let anything steal your happiness people. It isn't easy. That's why we have to train the mind to always appreciate.

@UnkleAyo You write beautifully well, i love it. Do you have a book?

@UnkleAyo God bless you for this the ability to be self aware is lacking in a lot of people. This one makes some people self made witch and wizard unbeknownst to them .

@UnkleAyo I read "Let Them" by Mel about this same situation. But she gave an explanation that has helped me since then. She says seeing people u were in the same situation a few years ago succeed is proof of wt is possible. Alongside giving thanks, be assured of what ur hands can achieve

@UnkleAyo Until we make the unconscious conscious, it’d keep controlling our consciousness and we’d think it’s fate .

@UnkleAyo Thank you for putting out my thoughts straight just when I didn't understand where the sadness was coming from last night.... sighs!

@UnkleAyo The point of this tweet is “you know all you know but a lot of times, you can’t help the feeling”. Mine was on Friday. And it took a very conscious effort to put it off Saturday evening. It’s not easy! Don’t compare is a lie, the human mind compares EVERYTIME!

@UnkleAyo Reminds me of this - “Someone who is content finds joy and peace by focusing on his current blessings. He does not feel bitter or angry because of what he lacks”. Thanks for this piece

@UnkleAyo As humans they are some state of mind we have no control over eg comparison, jealousy and hatred. No matter how good you are as a person you would find yourself doing one of this someday sometimes

@UnkleAyo Comparison is the thief of joy it's easier for you because you're successful but what of us that's still in the mud...If I am too think deeply I don't think I have anything to attack that mindset 😢

@UnkleAyo You have no idea how this story of yours is impactful to me. Thank you for sharing.

@UnkleAyo Comparison and envy is innate to us, we only need to check and recalibrate it. Ignoring it is very dangerous.

@UnkleAyo You're bold, mahn! 👊🏽

@UnkleAyo It’s always interesting how our minds often slip off our control. Most times, catching it needs a conscious self evaluation and a gracious beaming of God’s light.

@UnkleAyo This is very valid. I consciously make sure that I remind myself how far I have come without comparing it to any one. Be Grateful. People will always be better than you. You can’t stop it. But find happiness in the little things and be feared for how far you have come. #GRATEFUL

@UnkleAyo You know in hindsight this happens to me a lot, the only difference is I didn’t learn about the gratitude journal on time

@UnkleAyo Another weekend masterpiece. Envy never asks for permission, your basis and belief for gratitude has to be stronger. If need be, putting on the cape of hypocrisy could be your last resort to escaping the cavity of envy on the short-run.

@UnkleAyo Sometime in 2018, I saw a friend status on WhatsApp where he mentioned that he doesn't view anyone's status because he doesn't want to be trapped in the illusion that he isn't doing well. It became a style I chose to adopt. To grow in gratitude, focus on you alone.

@UnkleAyo Had similar experience not up to a month ago now🤧 I was genuinely happy for that friend (a secondary school classmate) but few minutes later, I was kinda down. I later had to cheer up and count my own Blessings too

@UnkleAyo Count your blessings and keep it moving when a streak of unhappiness struck you seeing people’s growth online

@UnkleAyo I learned how to control my mind & thoughts, navigate my conscious & subconsciousness through this book… it’s a good one The mind is truly a Temple.

@UnkleAyo Very much needed word

@UnkleAyo I know this feeling, it take a strong conviction that each has their time and season to shake off the doubt

@UnkleAyo Mood swings. Period symptoms

@UnkleAyo Being able to pin down the exact thing that's weighing you down is key to restoring your peace of mind.

@UnkleAyo You're possibly the best account I've followed on this space. There is a manner in which you express your thoughts. It always drives home the message. Thanks.