We live in an age where value is increasingly confused with price and where the worth of what we have is often judged not by its function or meaning but by how much it costs—or whether it outshines what others have.
Today, a phone is no longer just a tool for communication. Its relevance seems to depend on how much it costs, how new it is, or whether it competes with what others are using. A phone that simply works is seen as insufficient unless it comes with a heavy price tag or the logo of a high-end brand. But in reality, a phone—whether it costs $100 or $1,000—is still a phone. It performs the same essential task.
The same mindset extends to clothing. A dress, no matter how beautiful or well-suited to the person wearing it, is sometimes dismissed if it's not a designer label or didn’t come with a lavish price. We've entered a dangerous cycle where the purpose of things is overshadowed by how they help us perform status.
Nowhere is this more visible than in the way we approach life’s big milestones. Take weddings, for example. The pressure to impress often leads people to spend beyond their means just to create a spectacle. A man may feel the need to empty his bank account, borrow money, or go into debt just to host a wedding that will make headlines in his community—or go viral online. But when we strip away the noise, a wedding remains a wedding so long as it fulfils its purpose: uniting two people in the presence of their families, community, and tradition. The rest is embellishment.
At the heart of this lies a deeper truth: when we live our lives trying to impress others, we risk living for people who may not even notice—or care. The sad irony is that many of the people we try to please are often too focused on themselves to pay much attention to us. And even when they do, their opinions are fleeting, often forgotten as quickly as they were formed.
This culture of comparison and performance is not only exhausting; it’s unsustainable. It puts pressure on our mental health, distorts our values, and distances us from what really matters: authenticity, contentment, and meaningful connection.
So what’s the alternative?
It starts with redefining value on our own terms. Recognising that:
- A simple life is not a lesser life.
- A functional phone is still a good phone.
- A thoughtful, modest wedding is still a beautiful beginning.
- A life lived with intention is far more fulfilling than one lived for applause.
We must remember that we are not here to perform life for an audience. We are here to live it. And that means freeing ourselves from the burden of constantly trying to prove something.
Because ultimately, peace of mind is worth far more than anyone’s fleeting approval.
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