The Poison of Comparison: How Measuring Ourselves Against Others Increases Stress

The Habit of Looking Around Us

One of the most damaging practices that fuels our stress is the habit of constantly looking around, comparing our lives to those of others.

We look at our old school friends and see that they have already achieved the symbols of social success, such as a house, a car, or a family.

This act of comparison confronts us with a reality in which we feel that they are setting the standard of society, while we are not there yet.

Unconsciously, we use the lives of others as a measuring stick for our own progress, which puts us at a disadvantage and constantly evaluates us negatively.

This habit of measuring ourselves against others is a direct path to dissatisfaction, as we will always find someone who seems to be in a better position.

The False Sense of Being Left Behind

By making this comparison, we see that other people seem to be advancing at a much faster pace. faster, which gives us the distressing feeling that we are running out of time.

An internal dialogue begins in which we tell ourselves that we do not know what to do with our lives, since others of the same age have already achieved so many things.

This perception of being left behind applies to all ages, whether we see someone younger advance in their studies or someone older stabilize.

Comparison leads us to believe that we are failing to meet the unwritten limits and deadlines that life has supposedly imposed on us all.

We feel lost and disoriented, not because our path is wrong, but because we are judging it with a life map that belongs to someone completely different.

The Direct Connection between Comparison and Increased Stress

The precise moment we start comparing ourselves with others, we notice that our stress level begins to increase in a very noticeable way.

This Constant comparison leads us to feel like we're running out of time, which is one of the biggest catalysts for anxiety and frustration.

Stress is intensified because comparison reinforces the idea that we're not good enough or that we've made bad choices along the way.

This cycle of thinking traps us in a spiral of negativity, where every achievement someone else makes becomes a reminder of our own perceived shortcomings and flaws.

Comparison, therefore, is not just a bad habit, but a direct mechanism that manufactures and enhances the stress we feel in our everyday and professional lives.

The Antidote: Reclaiming Our Own Pace

The solution to this problem is to stop dwelling on the limits others have met and instead, give ourselves much more time.

We can consciously decide to focus on doing the best we can in each moment, accepting that our journey is unique and has its own particular rhythm.

Instead of worrying, we can tell ourselves that we will give ourselves two, three, or five more years to be able to reach that goal we so desire without feeling pressured.

By reclaiming our own calendar and freeing ourselves from the tyranny of comparison, we take immense power away from stress, allowing us to move forward with much more calm and confidence.