Trainer Tip Tuesday

How much of your day do you spend obsessively comparing yourself to your friends or colleagues?

Your best friend makes more money than you do, even though she's been at her job for less time.

Your work mate always gets complimented by your boss, even though you know she spends half her workday on Facebook.

Yes, everyone on LinkedIn is doing better on the ladder than you are. And yes, everyone on Instagram / Facebook is living a life much better than yours.

If you're a frequent player of the comparison game, then you already know it always ends with you feeling crap about yourself! It's something we are all guilty of, the tendency to compare ourselves to others. It is as human as any other emotion. However it is a decision that only steals happiness from our lives and has lots of unwanted effects and did you know that without the whole story, you really have no basis for comparison?

📌Comparisons are always unfair. We typically compare the worst we know of ourselves to the best we presume about others.

📌Comparisons by definition require measuring but only a fool believes every good thing can be counted (or measured).

📌Comparisons rob us of precious time. We each get 86,400 seconds each day and using even one to compare yourself or your accomplishments to another is one second too many.

📌You are too unique to compare fairly. Your gifts, talents, successes, contributions and value are entirely unique to you and your purpose in this world. They can never be properly compared to anyone else.

📌You have nothing to gain, but lots to lose. For example: your pride, your dignity, your drive, and your passion.

📌There is no end to the possible number of comparisons. The habit can never be overcome by attaining success. There will always be something or someone else to focus on.

📌Comparison puts focus on the wrong person. You can control one life......yours. But when we constantly compare ourselves to others, we waste precious energy focusing on other peoples lives rather than our own.

📌Comparisons often result in resentment. Resentment towards others and towards ourselves.

Comparisons deprive us of happiness. They add no value, meaning or fulfillment to our lives. They only distract from it.

Think about all this the next time you catch yourself doing it.