Comparison is something that so many people talk about but nobody seems to really listen to. It all sounds great, especially the idea of not comparing, but in this day, that is too hard. I know I struggle with comparison and I am quite sure I am not the only one.
Comparison sucks. Especially on social media where you are comparing your worst to someone’s good or highlight. Most of the time people only post their highlights on social media. This is because most people don’t want others to see their lowlights in life. This creates the comparison of I need to show my highlight to compete with their highlight.
Social media is a dangerous place. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the world of comparing yourself to others. When people post, like I said, it’s usually a highlight. We see this and compare it to our lows of life. This makes us think they are better than we are and that we are inadequate.
The hardest part of comparison, in my opinion, is when we compare our lows with someone else’s lows. A lot of people like to bring up that you don’t have it as bad as some people. Here’s the thing, just because we aren’t going through the same thing and theirs seems worse, it doesn’t mean your struggle is any less. Did you hear that? Let me repeat it. Just because we are not going through the same thing someone else is going through and their’s appears to be worse or harder than what you are going through doesn’t mean you struggle is any less.
I know numerous times in my life I get upset because I feel like why am I going on about how tough this thing is when someone else is dealing with something worse. Our struggles are not something that we should be comparing. Everyone goes through different things. Everyone deals with things differently. My struggles are going to be different than your struggles and your struggles are going to be different than their struggles.
We all are going to go through some crappy and sucky things. It’s just the way that life is. No one struggles are going to be the same. You might go through similar things, but nothing will be exactly the same.
Comparison steals joy. We all know that quote and I’m pretty sure it speaks truth. Comparison takes so much out of a person. It makes someone feel bad about themself. Comparison is not joke. It is something that many struggle with. It’s something that is hard to get past.
The one way that I have found that helps with my problem with comparison is paying attention and taking a step back when I realize it’s happening. I take a step back and really think about it. Why am I comparing myself to them? I don’t know their struggles and they don’t know mine. I don’t know what it took for them to get where they are at. I don’t know what they are going through. I don’t know all these things, I can not adequately compare myself to them because I don’t know everything.
Next time you see yourself comparing, take a step back and check your heart. What is going on in your life that is causing you to compare?
Madison Rae <3
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