They say that comparison is the thief of all joy, and there’s no question that the hours we spend measuring our own life against that of others is time that would be better spent being grateful for what we do have, or even working to achieve the goals we’ve set for ourselves. Of course, some level of comparison is inevitable, especially in this age of social media when we can observe the dream vacations, seemingly perfect relationships and otherwise fabulous lives of others with a quick scroll through our Instagram feed. I’m as guilty as anyone — no matter how much I want to always be happy when great things happen to others, it can be tough not to weigh our lives against theirs. So what can we do to counteract the comparison game? I think it helps to start each day with gratitude, choose to be present in our everyday lives, limit our social media consumption if necessary, and remind ourselves that we are enough just as we are. Click through the slides for a few of my favorite quotes that help me do each of these, and say goodbye to negative comparisons for good.
featured image via the coveteur
graphics by jennifer rose smith
A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it, it just blooms. – Zen Shin
“Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions … do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.” Tina Fey
Author
Camille Styles
Quotes tagged as "comparing-yourself-to-others" Showing 1-17 of 17
“We grew up on the same street,You and me.We went to the same schools,Rode the same bus,Had the same friends,And even shared spaghettiWith each other's families.And though our roots belong toThe same tree,Our branches have grownIn different directions.Our tree,Now resembles a thousandOther treesIn a sea of a trillionOther treesWith parallel destiniesAnd similar dreams.You cannot envy the branchThat grows biggerFrom the same seed,And you cannotBlame it on the sun's direction.But you still compare us,As if we're still those twoKids at the parkSlurping down slushies andEating ice cream.Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun (2010)”
― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
“We all have a life to live! We all have unique and distinctive purposes to fulfill! Everybody has a purpose on earth, and everybody must live the true purpose why God gives life to us each day! You are not on earth to compete with anybody but your true purpose. You are not on earth to compare yourself to anybody, but the you in you and the true purpose for which you came here! Life is good when you don’t compare yourself in a manner that will make you feel bad. Life is good when you know your true purpose in life and who you must live to be and to please! You fulfill your true you distinctively when you understand you are you and not anybody! So many people are living others destiny just because they have neglected their own true purpose! So many people think badly just because they compare themselves wrongfully with others and things! Everybody has a life and everybody must live a life! If there is any reason to compare yourself to others and things, let it be the inspiration you get from comparing yourself with others and things that makes you do something unique! There is a true reason for our existence on earth and we must reason from nothing, but the true reason why we live each day!”
― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
“Look in the mirror rather than at your neighbor.”
― Frank Sonnenberg, Listen to Your Conscience: That's Why You Have One
“It may seem like the dragons tormenting you are bigger and fiercer than those lurking in your neighbor’s yard, but this is an illusion. We all face mighty dragons at home in some form.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year
“Unfortunately, the band he was kicked out of was Metallica, which has sold over 180 million albums worldwide. Metallica is considered by many to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time.And because of this, in a rare intimate interview in 2003, a tearful Mustaine admitted that he couldn’t help but still consider himself a failure. Despite all that he had accomplished, in his mind he would always be the guy who got kicked out of Metallica.We’re apes. We think we’re all sophisticated with our toaster ovens and designer footwear, but we’re just a bunch of finely ornamented apes. And because we are apes, we instinctually measure ourselves against others and vie for status. The question is not whether we evaluate ourselves against others; rather, the question is by what standard do we measure ourselves?”
― Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
“The highlights you see on social media is not real life. Everyone you know faces their own challenges and struggles. Nobody’s life is perfect, so it’s pointless to compare or judge. Instead, be kind to yourself and others as often as you can.”
― Anthon St. Maarten
“After she'd finished a doctorate in naturaopathic medicine in Arizona, she'd told me, she got a master's in acupuncture. While she was living in Durham, practicing at an alternative medicine cener, she lectured at Duke University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine. During this same time, I had some pants hemmed, as my younger siser liked to say, in response to the dazzling achievements of others.”
― Emily Nunn, The Comfort Food Diaries: My Quest for the Perfect Dish to Mend a Broken Heart
“It's bizarre how we compliment eachother by saying "You look younger than what you are". I mean, can't we just be proud of our age and not constantly at war with a natural phenomenon?”
― Torron-Lee Dewar
“It doesn’t matter if someone drowns in a bathtub, a swimming pool, a lake, or an ocean. It doesn’t matter if someone drowns in five feet of water or a hundred. Drowning is drowning. Regardless of depth or source, your lungs still fill with water which prevents you from breathing, which prevents oxygen from being delivered to your heart, which causes you to panic and to die. No one in this world who drowns, drowns more or less than anyone else.”
― Sean Norris, Heaven and Hurricanes
“Everyone is born with a unique blessing whether it’s a talent, a personality, or appearance. Do not compare yourself to others. Instead, count your blessings; there are so many people who dream of having a life like yours.”
― Nadine Sadaka Boulos