Daniel Mabanta
In this post-pandemic, social media-obsessed world, it’s hard not to feel down every now and then.
A quick scroll through your reels and it seems like everyone’s living the perfect life while you’re still trying to figure things out.
But trust me, everything truly is relative at the end of the day. And I hate to be that guy, but sometimes you really do have to count your blessings. As long as certain needs are being met, you may be doing a lot better in life than you think.
So, I’ve put together a list of 10 signs that are a strong indication that you may well be doing much better in life than you feel. Let’s get into it!
1) You’re pursuing your passions
Sure, you may not own the latest Mercedes or your debt situation might be stressing you out, but if you are in a position where you can still fulfill your passions career-wise then you’re in a pretty good place.
Most people work in tedious and boring jobs strictly to pay the bills and not much else.
Trust me, as someone who has worked his share of empty desk jobs, it’s been a struggle.
If you work in a field that you genuinely enjoy, then you’re already way better off the most people.
2) You’re in good health
This is a big one. Maybe things aren’t as rosy as they could be or once were but as long as you have your health intact, then you’re in good shape… literally.
If you’re healthy physically and mentally, then you can effectively level the playing field.
All you need is the right opportunity to come along. And it will.
So don’t stress too much–as we all know, stress is the source of many of the health issues you ultimately want to avoid in the first place.
3) You’re able to help others
Guess what? In this capitalist, profit-oriented world, we tend to think of ourselves first, with the rest of society being sort of an afterthought.
We are also conditioned to think that cash is the main route to happiness.
But let me assure you, both of the above notions are somewhat misleading.
If you regularly help others through volunteering or charity work, then you’re already a valuable asset to this world.
Maybe you donate to noble causes like medical research or feeding the hungry. Or helping could simply mean being there for friends or family during difficult times.
Trust me, what you’re doing matters.
4) You have an income
Yes, you may not be making the millions the influencers you see on TikTok claim to make.
But if you have some kind of cash flow and you work for it, then pat yourself on the back – you’re very much a productive member of society.
Many people cannot survive on their own.
But you’re earning, taking care of yourself financially, and therefore pretty independent. This says a lot about your character. And your good status in life.
5) You have a positive attitude
Remember, mind over matter.
Having an optimistic outlook on life is already a massive bonus, even if your current circumstances don’t necessarily reflect that as ideally as you’d like.
In times of hardship, people without a positive attitude might be prone to giving up. Not you, though.
You’re able to see the good in even the direst of situations.
This makes all the difference. It’s a rare trait and one that makes you a resilient survivor.
At the height of the pandemic, I was overwhelmed with mountains of debt and dozens of threatening creditors calling me on a daily basis.
There were times I wanted to just throw in the towel.
But I confided in my dad and he rationalized things for me–that I otherwise had a lot going on in life: a loving and supportive family, food on the table, two great dogs, etc.
And just as importantly, he told me my problems were temporary, while others may never have a way out.
Soon, I changed my mindset from defeatist to optimistic. This attitude made all the difference and here I am today, happy and still going strong.
And speaking of supportive people…
6) You have solid relationships
Here’s the thing: if you have people in your corner when you need them, you already have more of an advantage than you think.
Whether we admit it or not, we humans are social creatures. Solitude can be nice, but full-blown loneliness is unhealthy in the long term.
Life can get difficult and to take it on alone, with all its highs and lows, can be emotionally taxing.
Knowing you have a supportive family, partner, or a solid friend or three that you can lean on during times of turmoil is quite a comforting feeling.
7) You learn and grow
I’ve said it before: to err is human. It’s perfectly okay to make the occasional mistake. Don’t beat yourself up about it.
What does matter, however, is that you’re learning from those mistakes. If you’re not learning, then I’m sorry, but you’re doing it wrong.
But if you’re open to owning your mistakes and using them as opportunities to grow as a person, you’ll be just fine.
You don’t need an MBA to learn and grow as a person. You just need to experience life and take notes while you’re doing it.
And this brings me to my next topic…
8) You have access to education
Now I don’t mean you need a degree from Harvard, but if you have learning opportunities at your disposal, be it through school or free courses, you’re in a good spot.
And with the internet, the possibilities for learning are limitless!
After all, the more you educate yourself, the more complete you become as a person, ready to face all the diverse challenges life throws your way.
9) You have a roof over your head
We tend to overlook this but having somewhere decent to go home to at the end of a long day is a big deal.
Having shelter, a soft bed, running water, and a decent WiFi connection puts you in a prime position to do great things in life.
If you filter out all the noise and crap on social media, all a person really needs are these basic essentials.
Because for every detached reel or photo you scroll past, we tend to compare ourselves. And a wise person once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Ain’t that the truth?
10) You don’t go hungry at night
Speaking of the essentials, if you’re getting daily sustenance in the form of two or three nourishing meals a day, then you’re definitely doing better than you think.
You’d be surprised how many people are on food stamps in this day and age. Or sleep hungry.
Granted, you may not be eating out at Michelin-starred restaurants every day but you go to bed nightly with a full stomach.
11) You have goals
Check yourself: Do you just sit around and let life pass you by?
You don’t, right? You’re no coaster.
You actually have goals and take regular and active steps towards achieving these said goals.
In a world where people forget their dreams and then feel regret, you constantly have your hopes and aspirations in mind, which motivates you to keep going and at a high level.
Conclusion
If a few of the items on this list resonated with you, you’re on the right track. Chances are, you’re doing a lot better than you’re giving yourself credit for.
Remember, everyone moves at their own pace, especially when there are setbacks. So keep that chin up, stop comparing yourself, and keep moving forward.
Oh and do us both a favor and log off TikTok for a while!
