Comparison why it is bringing you down

“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.” - Tim Hiller

I am sure that you’ve heard time and time again to quit comparing yourself to others. But do you know the extent to how much you are harming your well-being by doing so?

We are all taught from an early age that in order to be perceived as ‘pretty’ you need to be skinny, have clear skin, and have a high social media influence. These aspects are what determine whether you are accepted into society. As you grow, factors like societal pressure and the need to fit in increase. These cause you to view things differently and in turn, cause you to compare yourself to others. By doing so you are harming your self-worth, and this can destroy your mental health if you take it too far.

Social media plays a significant role in these tendencies. While scrolling through various social media platforms you are constantly comparing yourself to others. Whether it may be how pretty they are, their academic achievements, or even their social status.

For example, you see this person who excels in playing the piano. You, although, might not be the best at the piano and compare yourself to this person. You may think, I wish I were as good as her. However, what most people do not realize is the things that they don’t see. This girl may have taken classes since she was really little and that is what caused her to excel in piano. At the same time, you may have only taken lessons for 3 months. You may be comparing your starting point to someone else’s end without knowing.

Would the little you think "I wish I had better skin like her" or "Wow her teeth are so straight, I wish mine were like that." If the answer is no, then why are you wishing upon that now?

‘The Perfect Person’ doesn’t exist no matter how much we think they might. Everyone has flaws and imperfections and that is what makes you the person you are. By changing those characteristics, you are taking away from who you are and turning into someone entirely different. A person that is not you.

Comparison does nothing but harm your self-worth so instead of wishing to change into someone who you aren’t, learn to embrace it, take control of it, and make it into who you are today.