Comments on Overcoming Life's Obstacles: Social climbing can prevent stress-related disease...

You are saying people who are "higher on the ladde...

2010-06-02T03:28:41.141+12:00

You are saying people who are "higher on the ladder". I guess that there are not many of them as if you are factory worker you won't perceive yourself as a leader. I think that we should just accept ourselves and do not compare with others than we will be able to be happy.

Comparing 'down', i.e. counting your blessings in ...

2009-08-14T02:52:17.541+12:00

Comparing 'down', i.e. counting your blessings in relation to those less fortunate is a fairly well established happiness habit.

And neatly summed up by comedian Count Arthur Strong, albeit somewhat backhendedly:

'I'm never happier than when I'm in the company of people less fortunate than myself'

Hi Rose - sounds like you can look forward to a lo...

2007-08-28T13:02:00.000+12:00

Hi Rose - sounds like you can look forward to a long life.

I guess it makes the point that if you think well of yourself it lowers the your stress and has resulting flow on health effects including longevity. Having high self-esteem in general would have the same effect. Also you don't have to climb the ladder you only have to perceive yourself as highly placed on the ladder. So, if in your mind you're doing well (because you choose to compare yourself to people who aren't doing well) then you will get the same health benefits i.e. it's not so much your actual position on the social ladder as your perception of your place on the social ladder!

Talia, this is an interesting article. Especially ...

2007-08-28T11:03:00.000+12:00

Talia, this is an interesting article. Especially since I do picture myself at that prestigious top rung. In my world ;-)

Still, I wonder if this sort of personal prestige is worth a whole lot, apart from what it correlates with in terms of health. Surely this really results from already having emotional well being. I

f I tried to pick up self by bootstraps, as it were, smooshing myself upwards on that ladder, I might manage the grim visualization, but would it be the best use of my time? Or anyones?