Breaking Free from Psychological Imbalance and Mental Shackles: Analyzing Social Comparison Pressure, Positioning Bias, and the Longevity Record of "Old Jin" [i]

Almost everyone, while growing, constantly compares themselves horizontally and vertically with those around them. Once they find themselves at a disadvantage in these comparisons, a sense of imbalance arises, and pressure inevitably follows [i]. Pressure should be moderate [i]. Human desires are endless; we cannot fulfill all our wishes. Therefore, we must learn to let go and thus escape the psychological imbalance that follows disappointment [i]. Psychological stress is the root of many diseases [i]. Psychological balance is not a state of mind like a dry well, nor is it apathy; psychological balance is a rational balance, a sublime state achieved through personality sublimation and spiritual purification, a crystallization of magnanimity, foresight, and wisdom [i]. Everyone knows that anger is bad, and jealousy is even worse [i]. An experiment was conducted: a dog was leashed and tied up [i]. A piece of beef was thrown in front of it; it smelled delicious, and the dog wanted to eat it, but as it moved forward, its neck was bound, and the rope wasn't long enough [i]. The dog became very angry, its heart rate increased, and its blood pressure rose [i]. Another dog was brought over, and since it wasn't tied up, it quickly ate the meat[i]. The leashed dog became jealous: "I saw it first, and you got to eat it!"[i] Jealousy caused its blood pressure to rise and its heart to beat faster[i]. Another experiment involved baboons[i]. Baboons are very domineering; their king gets to eat everything first[i]. The experiment began with an iron cage covering the baboon king and a baby baboon[i]. Outside, some baboons were free, eating.[i] Neither the baby baboon nor the king could eat, but their attitudes were very different[i]. The baby baboon thought, "I wasn't supposed to eat first anyway, so it doesn't matter if I don't get any."[i] The king baboon, however, was furious, gritting its teeth[i]. Finally, it became very disappointed, its heart rate increasing[i]. Daily emotional distress and increased stress led to its death from cancer a year later[i]. The little baboon was perfectly fine because it always ate last [i]. The story tells us that life is inherently full of ups and downs, and we must cultivate the ability to withstand difficulties and setbacks from a young age [i]. What should you do when others have good things? When others have good things, be genuinely happy for them, don't be jealous, and learn from the virtuous [i]. How do you maintain this good mindset? Just remember three sentences, three "correct" principles: treat yourself correctly, treat others correctly, and treat society correctly [i]. Among these, the most difficult is treating yourself correctly [i]. You must accurately and accurately position yourself in your life, and never overstep your bounds [i]. Many very capable people fail in the end, why? Overstepping their bounds [i]. If your ability is only right for third place, but you insist on being number one, that won't work, you've misplaced yourself [i]. It is valuable for people to have self-awareness, "He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened," enlightenment is more difficult than wisdom [i]. Treat yourself correctly, care for others, and be grateful to society. As long as you do these things, you will be able to handle things with ease and have less psychological pressure [i]. Only by removing mental burdens can one achieve physical and mental health[i]. Making your spirit optimistic, happy, and strong is to make your body relaxed and comfortable[i]. It is rare for emperors, who held the highest position, to live to a ripe old age like Qianlong and Kangxi. The vast majority of emperors aged prematurely and died young[i]. One reason for this is that they were constantly scheming and burdened with heavy mental burdens[i]. Zhang Zhongjing, the medical sage of the Han Dynasty, warned people: "If you try every means to pursue fame and fortune, and are only obsessed with pursuing vanity and power, you will inevitably deplete your spirit and weaken your vital energy[i]. Ji Kang of the Jin Dynasty pointed out in his "Treatise on Nourishing Life": "There are five difficulties in nourishing life: not getting rid of fame and fortune is the first one[i]." He believed that it was most important to get rid of the shackles of the mind[i]. Some men in life pursue fame and fortune all day long. Such people will never experience ease and happiness[i]. Individualists are insatiable and are always worried about gains and losses. Such people often suffer the consequences of their own actions. "Aging quickly" is one of the bad results[i]. Such a life is extremely tragic[i]. Professor Jin Baoshan, a renowned wheat expert in my country, served as the head of the Department of Agronomy at Central University in 1939. The long-term mental depression during those dark years, coupled with stomach problems, caused him to age prematurely.[i] He was already using a cane in his early forties, and his hair was completely white before he turned fifty.[i] After liberation, he found success in agricultural science, and the joy of achievement led him to discard his cane.[i] In 1982, although he was 86 years old, he showed no signs of frailty and moved with agility.[i] Professor Jin's resilience in old age was primarily due to his open-mindedness.[i] Professor Jin's wife said, "I think it's because he doesn't get angry.[i] He eats and sleeps as usual, completely unconcerned.[i] A person who doesn't strive for fame or fortune, and has an open mind, will surely live a long life!" Be more magnanimous in the face of adversity, and you'll find no worries about the gloom or the loss of health![i]