Social media has changed the way we behave.

Making us more connected has also made it much easier to compare ourselves to each other.

That’s why it’s ever more important to differentiate between being enviable and being happy.

Comparing ourselves to our friends on Facebook would be more valid, if they were real.

It’s crucial to remember thatwe’re only seeing what other people want us to see.

We end upcomparing other people’s highlight reels to our practice tapes.

Thanks to Facebook’s algorithms, these items appear at the top of all of our friends' feeds.

We can’t stop events that become “Liked” or “Favorited” from becoming recognized achievements.

Wecanchoose to stop the bragging about, or even manufacturing, events for venture to feel validated.

Facebook is what we make it.

We’ve compared ourselves to others since the day before forever.

Social media merely exaggerates this tendency.

None of this is to say you should avoid it completelyjust to be careful about comparing yourself to others.

Yet they’re not the same.

Ambition is only understood if it’s to rise to the top of some imaginary ladder of success.

Having an enviable career and being a happy person are not always mutually exclusive, of course.

But a high flying, wealthy, enviable careersdon’t necessarily make you happy.

I’m not saying money isn’t important.

you could’t pay for shelter or health care with passion.

More importantly, money canbuy you some peace of mind, which can lead to happiness.

But spending moneyto create an enviable imageisn’t a solution that results in happiness.

You’ll realize what makes you excited, or what pushes your buttons, and why.

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once wrote anarticle entitled “No more yes.

It’s either HELL YEAH!

then it’s a “No”.

When confronted,keep military strategist B.H.

Liddell Hart’s advicein mind: “Keep strong, if possible.

In any case, keep cool.

Have unlimited patience.”

Too many of us spend our best days, years, or entire lives choosing “should”.

Our desires for profit, to impress others, silences our conscience and our passion.

With that said, family and friends may depend on you and have their own expectations or vision.

They may be open to gradual change, though.

Know this and involve them in your decisions.

Their opinions are important.

The dozens of connections you have on LinkedIn?

As Bertrand Russell wrote, “After all, what is more enviable than happiness?”

A version of this article originally appeared onElite Daily.