Stop Comparing Yourself

In the age of social media, comparing yourself to others can form into a really bad habit. I mean how many times have you scrolled through Instagram, and were just bombarded with people’s “awesome” lives.

Like Rachel from your high school who just got engaged to her boyfriend of 4 years. Or look at Simplyemily who took a month-long vacation in Germany. or Jason who just got accepted into Harvard law school.

You get the picture.

Everyone seems to be living their best lives online, when you feel like you’re not doing anything with yours.

The point is most times things are not as they appear. Social media is all about the highs of life rather than what’s actually going on. Something I once heard someone say regarding social media was “don’t compare your behind the scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.”

Another prolific scholar by the name of Jermaine Cole once said “no such thing as a life that’s better than yours.” Which cannot be anymore true.

Earlier this year when I was going through my depressive episode. I would go through social media and constantly compare myself to other people. Looking at other girls’ profiles and feeling so ugly in comparison. Or I’d look at people’s Instagram stories and feel like my life was so boring. All comparing did was make me feel worse than I already did.

We are all human, which means that everyone has flaws and no one is perfect. Some of the people you’re comparing yourself to may have their own issues they’re dealing with and you don’t even know.

Also, certain things come at different times for different people. We may think we’re on some kind of timeline and if we don’t keep up we’re a failure but it isn’t the truth. Comparing yourself and dwelling on what you don’t have just sets you up for failure.

Understand that you are you which is pretty damn great. You come with your own unique experience and skills that is an asset to anyone’s life. You don’t need to have a certain body type or have 1,000 likes on IG or have a high paying job to be important and have a good life. It can be hard not to compare your life to others or wonder “why can’t my life be like that?”

But, that thinking like that will only make you feel bad and hinder you from finding your own happiness. If you just focus on what you don’t have, you’re going to have a pretty miserable life. I know it’s tempting to look at social media and feel like you’re a failure, but you’re not. Someone else’s beauty doesn’t take yours away. Someone else’s success doesn’t mean you’ll never find your own.

Life doesn’t have to be a competition. If you are truly doing the best you can do and walking in your purpose, your time will come.