How To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

When you stop comparing yourself to others, you'll start feeling like an individual again. And that's when you'll realize just how much power you really have over your life. 

When you stop comparing yourself to others, you'll start feeling like an individual again. And that's when you'll realize just how much power you have over your life. 

How often do you compare yourself to other people? Are you constantly comparing yourself to your friends or family members? If you answered yes, then you might want to read this article.

When we compare ourselves to others, we focus on their successes and failures instead of our own. This leads us to believe that we aren’t good enough because we don’t measure up to someone else.

This comparison trap is prevalent. It’s estimated that over 90% of people suffer from it at some point. The problem is that comparisons only bring down self-esteem and make us feel bad about ourselves.

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Stop comparing yourself to others. You're better than them anyway!

Comparisons steal our joy, but comparisons also make us feel better about ourselves. So, if you want to be happy, then stop making comparisons. You won't lose anything by doing this. You will gain something: a sense of contentment and peace.

The problem with comparisons is that they are often inaccurate. We compare ourselves to others who have more than we do. But the reality is that many people don't even have what we think we need or desire. If you look around at your friends and family, you'll find plenty of people who seem to be living well without everything you consider essential for happiness.

So why do we keep comparing?

It's because we're human beings. We like to see how much better other people are than we are. This makes us feel good about ourselves. And when we compare ourselves to someone else, we tend to believe that person has more than we do.

But here's the thing: It doesn't matter whether the other person has more than we do. What matters is that we believe they do. When we compare ourselves to someone, we think that person is better off than us. This gives us confidence and boosts our ego.

So if you want to eliminate comparisons, you must change your mindset. Instead of thinking that other people have more than you do, you should start believing you already have everything you need.

Realistic Ways To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

We're going to compare ourselves to other people. That's what we do. We're not going to stop doing it.

Be Aware Of Your Triggers

Triggers are situations or stimuli that cause us to react a certain way. A trigger for anxiety might be too much caffeine. Emotional triggers include rejection and being rejected by someone close to you. Some people get triggered when driving through expensive neighborhoods, but others get triggered when they go out to brunch with friends who earn too much money.

Social media like Facebook, Instagram are triggering for me. They make me feel bad when I see other people getting successful. This leads to me comparing myself to others who seem successful. I am addicted to coffee. I drive by golf course-backed properties. I'm jealous of my neighbor's new car. These are just a few examples of triggers.

You can become aware of your triggers so you can avoid them. For example, if you notice that you get anxious when you see other people driving fancy cars, you know you have a social media trigger.

If you notice that you get angry when you see other people succeeding, you know you've got an emotional trigger.

Get Rid Of The Comparison Trap By Changing Your Mindset

Get Rid Of The Comparison Trap By Changing Your Mindset

Here's the trick. You have to change your mindset. Instead, start seeing yourself as having everything you need already. Start believing that you have everything that you need right now.

For example, let's say you want to quit smoking. You tell yourself, "I have everything I need to stop smoking." Maybe you read a book on quitting smoking. Perhaps you talk to a friend who has successfully quit. Or maybe you visit a website where people share their experiences.

Whatever you choose to use to help you quit, make sure it lets you focus on having everything you could need to succeed.

This will help you stop comparing yourself to others.

Change Your Perception Of Success

Another essential part of this process is changing your perception of success. In most cases, you may think you must work harder to achieve something. You may think that there is some secret formula that only some people understand. You may think that achieving success requires luck or timing.

None of these things are true. There is no magic formula. No one knows how to achieve success without working hard. And success isn't about luck or timing. It's simply about taking action.

It's up to you to decide what actions will lead to success.

Success Is Not About Money

Change Your Perception Of Success

Money is a tool for measuring success. If you're rich, then you're probably happy. If you're poor, then you're probably unhappy. But money is not a measure of happiness.

The key to success is not in the amount of money you have. The key to success is how many moments of joy you experience each day.

When you realize that money is not the key to happiness, you'll realize you don't need more money. You only need to take action.

Remind Yourself That Your Fears And Insecurities Are Universal

We feel bad when we compare ourselves to others. We want to:

  • see how much better we are than them.

  • know if we are as smart or talented as them.

  • make sure we are doing well compared to other people.

We also feel less than others because we think we are inferior to them.

Successful people have insecurities too. They compare themselves to others, which makes them feel bad about themselves. When they recognize that everyone else feels insecure, they begin to relax.

They realize that even though they might not be as successful as someone else, they still have plenty of opportunities to do great things.

Learn To Be Happy With Who You Are Now

Another way to learn to be happy with who you are now is by focusing on all the positive aspects of your life instead of dwelling on the negative ones.

Focus on your:

  • health.

  • relationships.

  • career.

  • family.

  • friends.

  • hobbies.

  • anything that brings you joy.

Start thinking about all the ways you are lucky to be alive. Think about all the:

  • Beautiful things around you.

  • Beautiful people you meet every single day.

  • Fun activities you can participate in.

  • Excellent food you can eat.

  • Places you can go.

  • Books you can read.

  • People you can meet.

  • Different types of music you can listen to.

  • Movies you can watch.

  • Adventures you can have.

  • Memories you can create.

If you do this exercise regularly, you'll start to notice that you are already living an incredible life. You'll find that you are very fortunate to be here right now.

Be Grateful For What You Already Have

You are among the top 8%. You are grateful for having food, water, and education. Instead of complaining you are happy because you focus on what you already have.

Happiness isn't having what you want. You should be happy if you have what you need. We're often unhappy because we don't know what we need.

We have the choice to feel powerless or powerful. Failure is another word for learning. Each time we fail, we learn something new about ourselves.

Everyone has a different starting point

Golfers should always start with an equal opportunity to succeed. Students shouldn't compare grades until they've mastered basic skills.

Commit yourself to gratitude

Commit yourself to gratitude

Gratitude journals help us feel better about ourselves by reminding us of all we should be thankful for. We also get to share our thoughts with other people. A gratitude jar helps us remember all the beautiful things in our lives.

Accept where you are

You can't change something you haven't acknowledged. So, instead of trying to fight or resist where you are, come into acceptance of what you're doing now. Say yes to everything about your life, and from there, make decisions that will lead you in the right direction."

Turn comparison into inspiration

It would help if you always tried your hardest to achieve something great. Please don't compare yourself to others; instead, learn from them. Try to become better than you were yesterday. Don't let others' achievements make you feel bad about yourself. Be inspired by others.

Shift The Focus Back To You

You should always be proud of what you've accomplished. Don't compare yourself to others. Celebrate your accomplishments by writing down your successes.

You have achieved three goals in the last month.

Love your past

Love your past

Your life was messy and bumpy. You made mistakes, had anxiety, and feared failure. All of these helped you become a better person. Embrace your story and be proud of who you've become. Wanting to make a better life for yourself is proud of.

Be your own ally

That means your voice tells you you're boring, stupid, and uglier than everyone else. You should ignore it and do what you want instead. Don't let the mean voice of comparison get to you!

Use the success of others as a source of inspiration, not a comparison

Study how the best people, including leaders, got there. Learn from their successes and work to become the very best you can be. Remember that even someone who is best at something has challenges and failures. Be your own best self.

References

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human relations, 7(2), 117-140.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/001872675400700202

Wills, T. A. (1981). Downward comparison principles in social psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 90(2), 245-271.

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-19755-001

Mussweiler, T., & Rüter, K. (2003). Comparison processes in social judgment: Mechanisms and consequences. Psychological Review, 110(3), 472-489.

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2003-07203-005

Mussweiler, T., Rüter, K., & Epstude, K. (2004). The ups and downs of social comparison: Mechanisms of assimilation and contrast. Journal of personality and social psychology, 87(6), 832-844.

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2004-20810-002

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human relations, 7(2), 117-140.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/001872675400700202