The danger of comparison.

COMPARISON IS A THIEF OF JOY

In a world of content creation, virtual likes, and comments, littered with so much fake and unreal presentation of people's supposed private lives. It is easy to fall prey to comparing one's self with the creators of these contents. We constantly see curated versions of other people's lives online, and it can be tempting to compare our own lives to what we see. We may feel like we are not good enough, not successful enough, or not living up to other people’s expectations. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and even depression.

The danger of comparison lies in the fact that we often judge ourselves based on incomplete or inaccurate information. We see others' highlight reels and compare them to our own behind-the-scenes realities. We fail to recognize that other people's lives are not perfect either, and that they too experience struggles, setbacks, and challenges. Comparison often leads to a cycle of negative self-talk. We may start to focus on our flaws and weaknesses, instead of our strengths and achievements.

We may become overly critical of ourselves, leading to self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. This can create a vicious cycle that only reinforces our negative self-perceptions. Comparing ourselves to others can cause us to lose sight of our own unique journey; and become so focused on what other people are achieving that we fail to appreciate our own progress and accomplishments. We may also lose touch with our own priorities and values, and instead start to focus on what others consider important.

In combating the tendencies for unhealthy comparison, it is important that we focus on our own journey and recognize our own unique strengths and talents. We should celebrate our achievements, no matter how small, and be kind to ourselves when we experience setbacks or failures. We should also work towards cultivating a growth mindset, where we view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than as personal failures. Everyone has their own unique path in life, and comparing ourselves to others is trading off our joy for peanut.

Kamikun John, Author 366 days of wisdom.