Affinity and Moods

(The 5-4-3-2-1 Reset: A Simple Trick to Find Calm)

I came across a quote that said:

“You can seem like a millionaire to one person and a homeless person to the next. The ants think you are a giant, and the trees don’t even notice you. You think you have a boring life, but the next person might be striving for your lifestyle.

Comparison is the thief of joy, so stay kind and keep loving life. Life is all just a big game of perspective.”

Powerful, isn’t it?

Perspective shapes reality. To someone else, your ordinary feels extraordinary, while to another, it seems insignificant. We often overlook the blessings in our own lives while comparing ourselves to someone else’s highlight reel.

At the end of the day, it’s all about how you choose to see yourself and your life. Gratitude and kindness anchor us, while comparison only steals our joy.

But let’s be honest. It isn’t easy to follow. We are all humans. So comparison is not only instinctive, but our minds are rather wired to measure ourselves against others. Social media, society, even family expectations keep feeding it.

Perspective shifts don’t happen overnight. They happen in small conscious moments…bit by bit…with trial and errors …with daily efforts spread across several years.

Our minds are like yo-yos, swinging from thought to thought. And sometimes in mid-swing, we lose ourselves because our thoughts don’t stay in a place for long. They swerve off track, pulling us down our paths we were never meant to take.

So, the trick, apparently, isn’t to stop the yo-yo from moving. It’s meant to swing but the trick is to watch where it’s going, so that it doesn’t knock you down.

Here’s one simple grounding practice that helps.

”The 5-4-3-2-1 Reset”

1. Look around and name 5 things you can see.
2. Notice 4 things you can feel
3. Listen for 3 sounds around you.
4. Identify 2 things you can smell.
5. Say to yourself 1 thing you’re grateful for right now.

This quick reset pulls you out of the spiral of comparison and into the present moment. Even in chaos, it brings brief pockets of peace.

Life will keep swinging—but if you stay anchored in gratitude and awareness, you’ll find your balance.

“Don’t let comparison steal the beauty of your journey. We are all here to fulfill something, in our own time and way. Let gratitude guide you to it.”