Everyone’s been guilty of comparing themselves to others at some point in their lives
– in fact, let’s be honest you’ve probably already done it today when looking at your Facebook or Instagram feed wondering what it’d be like to be someone else.
This can be a quick thought like when you see Kylie Jenner’s designer bag collection and realise it can pay your university fees maybe 50 times over (Kylie if you’re reading this please get in touch for my PayPal) or it can be something which causes you to spend all your time in bed listening to your sad songs playlist and wondering why the whole universe is against you (been there).
There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others and I’m going to try to list a few with as few cliches as I can (no promises).
Comparisons are unrealistic
Everyone’s journey is different, No two people are the same (there goes that no cliches thing), we have different upbringings, different relationships, different interests and different capabilities – and not all of this is shared with you on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. It makes no sense for you to compare yourself to someone else when there are so many things that make you different to anyone else!
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What to do instead:
Get to know YOU: It’s pretty much the easiest, yet most important, thing you have to do – Understand that you will get the best results when you know where your own strengths, weaknesses and interests lie.
Be aware that not everything is what it seems: Everyone chooses which version of themselves they put out on the Internet, just like you don’t post all the bad things that happen to you, other people also don’t!
Comparing yourself to others
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Doesn’t take you any further and will only make you feel bad. There’s a difference between having role models that set an example for what kind of person you want to be and obsessing over wanting to be where someone else is; the first one can motivate you and the second one will make you waste time doing that I’m-sad-leave-me-alone-the-universe-hates-me thing when you could be active in pursuing your goals.
What to do instead:
Get to know YOU: It’s pretty much the easiest, yet most important, thing you have to do – Understand that you will get the best results when you know where your own strengths, weaknesses and interests lie.
– Be aware that not everything is what it seems: Everyone chooses which version of themselves they put out on the Internet, just like you don’t post all the bad things that happen to you, other people also don’t!
Lastly, think about your success!
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The only person you should compare yourself to is the past you! You should look at where you were and how far you have come. Once you’ve set your goals you should look at the progress you, not others, have made and keep climbing up that guide you’ve made for yourself.
What to do:
Write down a list of your accomplishments: Note down all the things you have achieved, no matter how small they may seem at first because it is you who has put in the work to make them happen. Reflect on these and realise that you are capable of making the list longer!
Telling people not to compare themselves with others is easier said than done, it’s so easy to look at someone else and feel envious – it’s human! But we can’t let it stop us from living up to our potential.