lesson #3—inspiration vs. comparison

I am currently in a moment where I find it challenging not to look around. All the time, in every aspect of my life, there's a sense of comparison, as if everything is a competition.

"Why am I here when everyone else is there? Why does it seem like everyone is one step ahead? How do they manage to get there? What enables them to move forward? What are they doing? What am I not doing? What am I lacking?"

My quick response is that they are doing things better than me. They aren't comparing themselves; they are just moving forward without looking around. But I know the people beside me are human too, and who among us is exempt from comparison? I know I am not.

The exposure to others' achievements is constant. Even though more people are becoming vulnerable and showing their struggles, the focus still tends to be on what sets us apart rather than what brings us together – being human, not just a list of accomplishments.

What helps me break free from this cycle is to reframe my thinking. What do I need to remind myself of when I catch myself comparing?

Others are there to inspire me, not to compare myself to them‬

Just because others are ahead of me doesn't mean I'm lagging behind; it means there's still a path to tread. Viewing them as a threat is what holds me back. I need to set my ego aside and see these people as examples of what can be achieved. Isn't it limiting to think I've reached my capacity? Isn't it much more beautiful to know I can learn and achieve even more? It's about appreciating where I am today while defining my own path.

My journey is mine and mine alone

I have already learned not to compare my path because no one else knows my journey like I do. No one else knows what it took to get here (and how much I have left to go), both professionally and personally. It's been a process of trial and error, risks and setbacks, motivation, and demotivation. Some successes, many failures. Only I truly understand what it means to be me.

I probably represent all this to someone else

Just as I look to others, someone out there might be wondering the same about me. It always seems like others have it better, but we all have doubts, processes, fears, certainties, and desires. We are a mix of all these things, but we tend not to see it. Our access is limited to what we show, and the same applies to others.

Every time I look around, I have to remind myself that I'm comparing myself to people who have never walked my path. What brings me comfort is knowing that when I look back, I have always been creating my own path. Sometimes with confidence, sometimes not knowing where my destiny was headed, but the essential thing is that I've always adjusted to what emerged along the way. Making mistakes, making the right choices, but always betting on myself, always walking with myself.