Never Stop Comparing

We are encouraged to live life on our terms and not compare ourselves to anyone. That is pretty solid advice if you ask me, but with quite a few potholes. The biggest flaw that emerges from this lack of comparison is that we sometimes take it to mean that we're under no obligations to improve our lot whatsoever.

It is true that comparison can lead to envy and depression, especially when we compare ourselves to people who we shouldn't. I certainly have learned the hard way that we all have our unique pathways in life and comparing my pathway to another's is simply ridiculous simply because of the variance in our experiences. That said, there is a little room for the type of comparison that will bring about the necessary changes.

We're meant to compare ourselves to ourselves on a consistent basis and aim to be better than our previous selves. This is the best way to grow and one way of ensuring that positive reinforcers are yielded from our comparisons. We could also compare ourselves to people we admire, or at the very least look up to them and try to emulate them.

One way or another, life is a constant competition and we certainly don't win by seeing and hearing no evil. Never stop comparing.