How Is Everyone Else Getting Ahead While I’m Stuck Here?

TMI Alert! This morning, as I was sitting on the loo (because when else do you really scroll uninterrupted?), I found myself deep in the highlight reels of Instagram. Post after post of six-figure launches, “I woke up like this” selfies, and another perfectly edited morning routine video. Naturally, I thought, “Am I the only one whose life feels like a hot mess right now?”

And that’s when it hit me.

Social media is like a highlight reel on steroids. It’s not real life; it’s the glossy, airbrushed version of reality where filters smooth out the chaos and captions conveniently skip over the tears, tech glitches, and 12-hour workdays.

But that doesn’t stop us from comparing, does it? We see someone’s success and instantly feel like we’re falling behind. The endless scroll becomes a silent question: Why does everyone else seem to have it all figured out, and I’m over here Googling how to write a decent email subject line?

Here’s the truth no one talks about: no one’s got it together all the time. Sure, that entrepreneur might have nailed their latest launch, but you didn’t see the nights they spent second-guessing every decision or the months it took to get there.

The problem is, comparison has a funny way of blinding us to context. We see someone’s Chapter 20 and feel bad because we’re still on Chapter 2. But their Chapter 2? It probably looked a lot like yours: messy, uncertain, and full of late-night pep talks with a glass of wine (or three).

So, how do you stop feeling like you’re behind?

First, remember that the internet is not real life. It’s a curated version of success, carefully cropped and edited.

Second, focus on your own journey. Instead of asking, “Why am I not there yet?” ask, “What’s my next step?” Small wins are still wins, and progress always beats perfection.

And finally, give yourself permission to embrace the messy bits. The tech hiccups, the launches that flop, the days when you wonder if it’s all worth it—that’s where the real growth happens.

Because here’s the thing: the people who look like they’ve got it all together? They’re probably looking at someone else, wondering the exact same thing.

So next time you feel like everyone else is miles ahead, take a deep breath, put your phone down, and remind yourself: no one’s journey looks as polished as their Instagram feed.

And honestly, isn’t the messy part where the magic happens?