THE COMPARISON TRAP

"Comparison is the death of joy”. - Mark Twain.

This quote is even more relevant today in the age of online platforms with a constant overload of well curated success stories.

And while there’s nothing wrong with sharing, there’s a not much to gain with comparing.

Here’s why I think comparison with others don't work:

👉 You’re comparing apples with oranges. We take success stories out of context. 99% of the time when people share their success, they don’t provide their full context. They don’t share their background and the multitude of factors (other than their own hard work of course) that created an environment for their success. They don't share who their benefactors were. We're all beneficiaries of our predecessors. Some only get to plant the seed, others leave behind a ripe crop ready for harvest.

The point is, our environments and backgrounds play a huge role in where we are in life. We all exist at different points of the curve. Some ahead, some catching up. And catching up can take a generation or two for many. We're not looking for excuses but for understanding and acceptance. Shoot for the stars but just don’t compare without the context.

👉 The more you compare upwards, less accepting you are of yourself. And the lesser you accept yourself, the more unacceptable you become for the outside world. There's no end to this. Self-acceptance is critical for your own emotional wellbeing.

👉 To grow in life, the only comparison you need to do is with yourself. Look around to learn from others but not to put yourself down. Start with selfcare, maintain your internal order and march forward. You need to consume yourself with your own mission and goals and focus on how you can be a better version of yourself each day. Even if that means taking one small step today!