Comparing yourself to other people is a guilt that is as old as history; and with the dawn of social media it seems to worsen. Here are five ways to stop comparing yourself to others
From an early age, we are automatically compared to people around us, from our siblings, friends, neigbours, at school, and all the way to our adult lives. Yes, Theodore Roosevelt was right when he said that comparison is the thief of happiness, but how can we help it when we have been pressured to be like certain people and meet certain standards all our lives? I feel social media has made it worse because we have access to the filtered and edited lives of others on our finger tips. I won’t lie, I have been prone to this bad habit. There are people I had to unfollow online because I couldn’t help feeling like I was stuck in my life while I saw their successes and progress. Comparing yourself to other people breeds a lot of jealousy, desperation to keep up with what others have or worse, depression. This is not a scientific or psychological formula that I am writing, but it’s from experience. It’s the worse way of treating yourself unfairly because everyone is unique, and so is our purpose in life. Someone else might have a better job, car, body or life but that does not mean that you have to overlook the things you have to be grateful for because what you have, no matter how small you think it is, is something that someone else is praying or hoping for every day. So, how am I learning to stop this bad habit? By doing the following things below. I hope they inspire you to do the same:
List everything that you are grateful for: While we often complain about our parents, the jobs we don’t like that pay little salaries, or sitting in traffic, these are some of the things that you need to stop and be thankful for. Start focusing on the things that you are blessed with instead of what you don’t have because that will make you resentful to what others have.
What have you achieved in your life: Every goal achieved, no matter how small it may be, is something to pat yourself on the back for. I feel my blog had been slow in gaining traffic, a following on social media or even being taken seriously, but the fact that you are reading this means a lot and that although it might not be a million people I am reaching (yet), but inspiring those around me now is more than enough to make me feel proud. Ever since I stopped putting unnecessary pressure and deadline on myself I have realised that there is so much I have achieved in my life that I am grateful for.
Life is not a competition: I love the quote that says that you should stick to your lane because there is no traffic there. Your journey is unique. There really is no point in seeing others as competitors and frowning at their success because you don’t know what it took for them to be where they are. Rather, be inspired by people’s successes to persist in seeing your dreams come true.
How is your relationship with yourself: A low self-esteem is a dangerous reflection of how you see yourself, and it shows in how you treat or relate with others. You have to be more kind to yourself because and take it one step at a time.
I am worthy: This is one self-affirmation you have to repeat to yourself until you believe it. You are worthy of success, love and happiness. If you believe that you will not settle for anything or people who make you feel otherwise, especially through the sin of comparison.
Take charge of your life and live it to the fullest. Comparison won’t get you far in life because as Boity would tell you, “Don’t let your food get cold worrying about what’s on my plate…”
