People have it worse
Often, we are consumed by our own lives. We are involved in it on a deeply personal level. This has the effect of making our problems loom larger than they are. We start worrying too much. We are overwhelmed by our problems. We start complaining. We stop being grateful.
But this can be changed. All we need to do is study the lives of others. We find that many have much better lives than us. But many many more have much harder struggles in their lives than we do. This fosters humility. We start being kinder towards others. We stop whining about our problems and we grow stronger and get the strength to deal with our own set of problems.
This is not to say that your or mine problems are not hard. I am not underestimating them. Instead, I am pointing out that doing this exercise will make you deal with your problems first and then start to help those who have it worse than you and make it easier for them. You become a better human being.
