The Poison of Comparison
Beware of the seduction of comparison as a fuel for action. It is volatile and unreliable, sparking a fire that can quickly burn out or, worse, spread in harmful ways. Comparison may motivate you momentarily, but it comes with a heavy cost: discouragement, discontent, and the opening of envy’s door.
DISCOURAGEMENT IS BORN OF THIS ACTIVITY. DISCOURAGEMENT BREEDS DISCONTENT, AND DISCONTENT ROBS YOU OF JOY. WORST OF ALL, THE DOOR OF ENVY IS OPENED. It’s a slippery slope—one moment you’re inspired, the next you’re trapped in a cycle of never feeling “enough.” When you catch yourself comparing, interrupt the pattern immediately and remind yourself of these truths:
Your journey is meant only for you. No one else can walk your path or carry your burdens. Your struggles and triumphs are uniquely yours.
You don’t know the true cost that others have paid—or continue to pay. Every success story has a price tag, often hidden. What you see on the surface rarely reflects the full truth.
You decide if you are content, not your material possessions or circumstances. Contentment is a choice, not a byproduct of wealth, status, or validation. It’s a decision you make daily, independent of external factors.
Look to the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius: “Wherever a person can live, there one can also live well.” Your contentment is within your control, no matter where you find yourself. You are enough without comparing yourself to others.
So fuel your fire from within. Let your actions be driven by your own values, goals, and passions, not the illusion of someone else’s life. By doing this, you preserve your joy, protect your peace, and continue to live your own journey well.
