In human nature, it is to compare, compete (remember the Olympic motto citius, altius, fortius (faster, higher, stronger)), which we can not avoid even in everyday life or is even more prominent on social media. I agree that following the right role models on SM should aim to improve ourselves and find inspiration for our lives. I am fascinated by some entrepreneurs or IG influencers (not by their material possessions) but by their wisdom they acquired during years and, most of all, their willingness to spread knowledge and experience (good and bad) with their followers. Those people should earn respect, not envy and jealousy.

”But I also know that having a shield and your own personal weapons to deal with this onslaught and stop it from driving you nuts is the key to thriving in these times of endless social pressure.”

I am noticing warfare terminology lately (shield, weapons, onslaught :-) ). I am keener on peaceful terminology, and confidence is one of them. For many of us, confidence is not a second skin, but we have built it up during the years; it’s an asset that we have created out of ourselves. Every person has two types of assets: the tangible one (our physical appearance, as given by nature or later may be corrected by plastic surgeons), and intangible assets (our knowledge, education, talents, experiences, character, values, wisdom, achievements etc.). The former asset can give us superficial confidence based on our look, while the latter is the one that forms true, core confidence. And the more we build our intangible assets, the more value we create for and of ourselves and the higher self-esteem we have, which suggest there is no need to compare ourselves to others.