Comparison is the thief of joy. This poignant statement was said by the late president Theodore Roosevelt and if you ask me, it is true.
Sure, it can be beneficial to have some friendly competition or even use someone else’s successes to keep you motivated and striving to become better and achieve more.
However, when we compare ourselves to what others have, we are often making ourselves feel down right inadequate and deflated – with a low self-esteem to match. With social media being a platform to flaunt every aspect of our lives, high expectations to be earning a certain amount, to own the latest materials and to look a certain way – it’s only inevitable that as humans we are going to give in to the trap that is self-comparison.
Sure, simply stopping the habit of self-comparison doesn’t happen overnight – but here’s a way you can start to overcome that thief of joy.
First, make a list of things you love about yourself and your life.
when you become aware of all the great things you have going for yourself, you will feel instantly uplifted.
…NOW WRITE DOWN WHY SELF COMPARISON IS UNECESSARY
It inflicts feelings of self-hate, wastes time, deprives us from joy and basically, there is absolutely nothing to gain from self-comparison. That’s just a few reasons to start you off!
Next time you feel those self-comparison thoughts creep in, get outside and take a walk. The fresh air, the beautiful surroundings and the endorphins you’ll get from moving your body and connecting with nature is the ultimate way to kick out any negative feeling.
