Is comparison really the thief of joy?

No doubt life will feel pretty manic in the run up to Christmas as you're busy trying to juggle parties, present shopping and work whilst also trying not to pile on the Christmas pounds and keep up with the exercise. It might feel like you're ferociously trying to keep your head above water when everyone else seems to be holding it together nicely! Are you scrolling through your social media looking at everyone else's perfect pictures of their best lives?

It's very easy to get caught in the comparison trap and for it to have a negative impact on how you see your own life. If you carry on reading though, I'd like to offer a different perspective.

Comparison can be the thief of joy - if you let it.

Nobody has everything figured out. Everyone has struggles and bad days but on social media, most people just show you the good bits. If you find that a scroll on social media leaves you feeling inadequate and like you're failing at life, remember that It's easy for people to create a rose-tinted version of their best life. It's not very often that they'll show you the shit shower that's going on behind the pictures!

You could also try curating your social media feed and unfollow people/accounts who (for whatever reason) trigger negative feelings. Take control of what you're being fed. You could also take a temporary pause on social media altogether and see how it affects your life. I did this a year and a half ago and I'm still on my temporary pause! I find I have more time to do the things that I feel add more value to my life. I might dive back in at some point but with much stricter boundaries than I had before.

Glance back, look forward.

Comparing yourself to how you used to be - for example before the birth of a child, before an injury or a life changing event - can be pretty destructive. Whilst it's good to glance back to see how far you've come, living in the present and working on being a better version of your current self is a much kinder and more realistic approach. The person you are today is a result of the life you've lived up until now - warts and all! If you're constantly looking back it distracts you from what's going on in the present. It prevents you from creating the habits that make you the person that you want to be.

Comparison can be inspiration.

Comparing yourself to others can be really inspiring. You might have aspirations to run a marathon, lift a certain weight, look a certain way or do a certain job. There will be plenty of people out there who have achieved similar things. Looking at other peoples achievements and learning from them can be hugely motivating too. You may be further away from a similar goal, but seeing and celebrating what others have achieved can help you to visualise your own success.

Have you ever watched the London Marathon and felt inspired to run? Have you seen people raise money for charity and it's kicked you into action to do something for others? Success can breed success, just as much as negativity can breed negativity!

A question for you:

1. What email subjects would you like me to cover in the future? Reply to this email with your ideas!