Comparison is essential. We do it all the time without even knowing it. Even sitting there, reading this now, you’re subconscious is busily comparing your state now, including all your thoughts, feelings, etc, to what it might be should you make slight changes in your posture or how you’re sitting.
If it comes up with something that it feels will “improve” your state, you’ll find yourself shifting in your chair slightly, often times without even realizing it.
Life is one endless stream of comparisons, mostly unconscious. There are two I’d like to address today. They are often used “incorrectly” or not nearly as resourcefully as they could. Used correctly they can lead to consistent positive change, meaning more wealth, more freedom, and better relationships.
Used incorrectly, they can lead to depression, poverty, and inevitable self destruction.
The two comparisons I speak of are comparisons to others, and comparisons to self.
Comparisons to others are helpful in helping choosing a direction where you want to go. If you see somebody that has something you want, it can be invaluable to figure out how they got it, and then simply copy them as best you can.
The easy mistake, however, is to see somebody that has something that you don’t, and want, and use this as “proof” that life is “unfair.” This can lead to destructive thinking , like
“I’ll never get what I want,”
or
“the system is rigged against me,”
or
“why should I even try.”
Nothing kills motivation and potential achievement faster than this kind of thinking. Please do yourself a favor and avoid it like poison.
When you want some inspiration, compare yourself today to how you were a year ago. Instead of looking out into the world to find people that are “better off” than you, look into your own past to find proof that you are “better off” than you were before. You know more, you’ve experienced more, you’ve tried more things, you’ve gotten more results to base future decisions on.
In short, look to others for inspiration and motivation.
Look to your own path for proof that you’re on the right path, and you’ve a lot more to accomplish.