If You’re Thinking About Comparing Yourself To Someone Else…

Lately I’ve been thinking about something I wrote in my discussion with Dr. Seuss:

“Yes, I am definitely me no matter how many times I wished to be someone else and I have wished it more times than I can count.”

The quote that caused me to confess was none other than:

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” ~ Dr. Seuss ~

Do I really wish that I was someone else?

No, I don’t think people in general want to BE someone else. What people really want when they compare themselves to others is a trait or circumstance. Is that healthy?

Everyday we are in a world of comparison. For instance, at your job, your work is compared to your co-workers. This comparison is often the basis of how you rank in the company and if you will be promoted and the amount of your raise. This comparison promotes competition, but it also creates a huge amount of stress to perform better than everyone else.

While being unemployed, my resume is being compared to all the other resumes submitted for the jobs. Most of the time, a computer is doing the comparing with just keywords that have been programmed into it. In this comparison my personality isn’t even considered. Does that mean I’m not as good as everyone else? I don’t think that even for a second.

“Comparison is the death of joy.”~ Mark Twain ~

When you compare yourself to someone else, you usually compare yourself to someone who has more money, more influence, more experience, or more of anything and then we fall short every time. That feeling of not being as good as everyone else stagnates our happiness and creativity.

On the flip side, when you compare yourself to someone who isn’t as accomplished, you could fall into the trap of acting falsely superior. Arrogance is not an admirable trait.

So if you’re thinking about comparing yourself to someone else…Don’t.

Don’t do it.

Comparing yourself to other people usually brings about sadness and/or depression.

If you want to compare yourself to someone, compare yourself to the person you were yesterday or a year ago. How do you measure up with yourself? Are you attaining your goals? Are you a better person than you were a year ago? Have you learned anything? Have you put any good habits in place?

You with you is the only comparison you really need to ever make…ever.

The only thing that matters is that you are becoming a better version of you. Your daily affirmation should include the confidence necessary to do YOUR very best that day.

Being me is fine because I’m the only one who can be me and I’m doing a great job at it!

You won’t fail at being yourself unless you spend all your time comparing yourself to someone else or if you quit trying to improve yourself. Stagnation is falling backwards. There’s no such thing as just maintaining because everything in life is changing so quickly that when you stop moving forward, no matter how slowly, you are really steadily slipping back and losing what you have already gained.

Think of it like this…If you have a talent and you never use it, you’re going to lose it.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”~ Albert Einstein ~

We live in a world of people and not one of them can do a better job at being you. Everything you have ever experienced has brought you to this point and you are a genius at being you. With each year, you have become more and more of you. If you’re not liking who you are or what your life has become, then you have all the skills within you to improve.

Just take it one day at a time.

Today you will be better than yesterday.

How you compare to anyone else doesn’t matter. Improve yourself each day and then when you look back, you will not only be better than yesterday, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment and happiness.