When Comparison Becomes A Thief Of Joy

in #writing7 years ago

Whenever we fall into the business of comparing ourselves to others, it can easily steal our joy and discourage us.

It's easy to look at those who we see around us, what they might seem to have that we don't, and to then start to compare their current situation with our own. For many folks, this comparison habit is one that can easily cause a lot of distress in life.

When we look to others who seem to have more than we have, we can easily become bitter, saddened, discouraged, and unmotivated.

For some people, they have no problem with comparison though, they can celebrate the success of others and look to their success as motivation. However, for many it's not that easy, and the act of comparison is one that can easily generate depression.

When we look out into the world around us, do we have a choice of what we think when we see others who might seem to have more than we do? Or do we have to think and meditate on each and every knee-jerk thought that falls into our mind? Because some of them might not be doing us any good; they might be decreasing out standard of living by stealing our peace and joy.

Could we perhaps ignore the thoughts that aren't doing us any good and try to focus instead on the ones that are more empowering, ones that bring us joy rather than frustration?

Just as easy as we can look to others and let that fuel the negative, we should remind ourselves that we are able to look to others and let that inspire positivity instead in our lives.


For example, if we are looking to those who have more than we do and that discourages us and makes us sad then let's change direction and stop looking and focusing on that. Instead, we can turn our focus and attention toward thinking about the millions of people who we are no doubt more fortunate than at the present time.

When we focus on those who have less than we do, it can easily boost our spirits because it fosters a habit of thankfulness. When we are spending time reflecting on those who we are more fortunate than, it pushes us in the direction of gratitude. And by focusing on what we're grateful for, it can help us to maintain an appreciation for life, and it enable us not to fall into the other negative side of comparison.

There are many reasons to be thankful every single day.

Right now there are millions of people who don't have access to clean drinking water, millions who don't have the luxury of air conditioning or their own vehicle or home. Many who don't know where their next meal is going to be coming from. Millions of people being killed or caged all around the world for victimless crimes at the moment, villages being destroyed by war, and a lot worse. So if we're going to fall into the habit of comparison, hopefully it's in a way that adds to our life rather than taking away from it.

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This is why I've been trying to teach my readers on Steemit to never compare their results with other Steemians. I have compared my own results with other Steemians more than a handful of times but I do my best to never compare my results with others. I try to compare my results from today with the results I had yesterday instead. - That's a recipe for success.

The same thing goes for the real life too. Don't look at the person next to you and compare yourself. We all come from different places in life and these things will affect our lives in more than one way too.. And ultimately give one person more than others, just based on our past. - Great post! :)

I read your comment after making mine, and you nailed it!

I often tell others not to compare themselves to other people. It can be especially true on steemit. Here, people should compare themselves to themselves, and be constantly learning and improving.

Good closer too.

Yeah I agree. Like with golf 😀 I really struggle to do it though I am constantly comparing myself I need to stop doing that!

wise words! thx for stopping by papa! :D good to see ya!

We are all unique! And comparing ourselves to other is unfair...When we do that we lose our true identity! We should learn to enjoy our life...because everyone has their own path!

It is easier to be negative than to be positive. 😀

isn't that the truth! :)

Thanks for your kind words! I hope you have a wonderful day. 😃Thanks for connecting on here.

Perhaps a trip to the countries with that condition will make us feel more gratified as we experience what is it like to be in such poor condition.
Human always loves to compare, but it is also a double age sword. By compare, we may have better motivation to outdo others, but it also will create conflict in the future. It really depends on what we are comparing and compare to learn but not to compete. For example, compare your business model with those businesses that are successful. From there, you can find out the missing pieces for the company to further success.

You really hit it out of the park with this post. It's so easy to fall into that trap and once you're there, so hard to get out of.

The theory of when you are satisfied with what you have you are more happy

There would always be someone having more than you,
and there is nothing about it, that we can do.
But looking at the poor and feeling relaxed is not the key!!
We should instead look at the rich to feel motivated and feel happy 😌.

whatever works for the individual

nice one.
thanks

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We live in a society where we end up comparing ourselves to other but we should stop focusing on other and just focus on you.

So true. Well said.

Nice post,,,,,,,

Comparison is not way to get success.

Great works, I wish you success
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good post I would be very thankful if you please follow and upvote me thanks.This post recieved an upvote from sanjeev.kapoor . If you would like to recieve upvotes from sanjeev.kapoor on all your posts, simply FOLLOW @sanjeev.kapoor

Thanks @doitvoluntarily for the post. I am new in steemit and I have realised that I am able to make my own stuff and post it. If people like it then that's fine. And, if they don't, that's fine too.

I have come here after 1 year of trying my hand in microstock photography.

I have been a amateur photographer for 40 years and have built up a big stock of photos and some video. Many of these are of interesting subjects. The downside is that they are in the digital quality that was available at the time.

In submitting to the agencies (several) I was constantly looking at what others were producing and comparing myself .

I had photos of similar subjects, equal technical quality, composition and properly tagged. Yet I was making no significant sales. Hundreds of hours work, hundreds of photos, yet 2-3 USD a month. I also suffered from the perfectionitis disease.

Part of the reason for coming to steemit was that I realised, that what I was producing was for others, not myself.

In marketing I know that you aim to the customer needs first. The trouble is that you don't know who the customer is going to be so you have to guess.

I am taking a rest from this photo-business now and just aiming to have some enjoyment in posting for fun with no expectations.