The Thief of Comparison

There is no one in this world like you and that is your superpower. These type of statements would often come off to me as cliche’ or something you might hear while attending a Tony Robbins motivational conference. 

In a society of “survival of the fittest” this superpower and our unique individuality seems to get diluted in the muddy waters of comparison. Comparison in the guise of wanting something to be different than what it currently is. 

            “Comparison is the thief of all Joy” 

Theodore Roosevelt

Throughout my life, Ive often compared myself to others. This long street of comparison began at a very young age. I can remember being teased about how small and “squeaky” my voice was. This type of judgment left me wildly insecure and was inadvertently the reason I became painfully shy and fearful to use my voice in front of others. I would always compare my voice to my friends and long for a more mature voice so that people would stop mistaking me for a 5 year old. 

Eventually as I got older and more mature, my voice soon followed! Unfortunately, this trail of comparison became a perpetual  cycle that still exists to this day. Sometimes I sit in this black hole of comparison, and In the stillness of nothingness i am comforted by the insecurities of my own inadequacies. Inadequacies that may sound like: 

• Am I good enough?
• I’m getting older and no real progress is being made in my career
• If I lost weight I would look better in photos
• I should be more financially successful than I am
• I cant believe I’m not married with kids yet
• Will I ever own a house? 

Sound familiar? 

I read an Instagram post that said; “A sign of depression or anxiety can disguise itself as failing”. Whew! That hit me harder than the time McDonald’s discontinued their orange Hi-C. That knocked all the wind out of me. 

But why does this false perception of reality have the power to cause us to become mentally ill? Or more importantly, why does the adoration you have for other peoples lives cloud the inherent beauty of your own? 

Our society has created a false sense of reality. It’s an alluring illusion that will lead you to believe that where you currently are in life isn’t good enough. But if you always think your happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are. 

I get it y’all. We want it all. We want the money, cars, clothes and the hoes. Shout out to drake! But I actually think Mr. Jermaine Cole said it best; no such thing as a life better than yours. So live YOUR life and become the best version of YOURSELF that you can be.