Claiming your life back from the thief of joy.

---

Avoiding comparison can often feel impossible. It tends to happen without us even noticing, the moment we see someone else succeeding and instantly begin to question our own lives.

In a world overflowing with highlight reels and social media designed to convince us that we need more, our joy can be easily overshadowed by a constant desire to improve and be more like others.

The classic saying, “the grass is greener on the other side,” implies that others have it better than we do, only fuelling our tendency to compare ourselves. However, the reality is that the grass is greener where you water it. Focus on nurturing your own life and well-being – your own grass – so much that you won’t even have time to compare it to someone else’s.

A common target for comparison is beauty. There is no single definition of beauty, and companies that promote photoshopped models as “the standard” only contribute to a toxic need to compare appearances. It’s important to remember that you never know what others are going through. Idolising someone solely for their looks – something they cannot necessarily control – can create an avoidable cycle of self-loathing.

The healthiest person to compare yourself to is your past self. Instead of asking why you aren’t at the same level as someone else, focus on whether you are getting closer to where you want to be. Acknowledge how much you have progressed over the past few years and let that motivate you, instead of the idea of someone else’s success.

Stop waiting for everything to be perfect to be happy. This is one of my favourite quotes because of its bluntness. There will never be a perfect time, no matter how much others try to make their lives appear flawless. You’ll never be truly happy if you’re constantly chasing perfection, which often doesn’t even exist.

Comparison is often called the thief of joy because it distracts you from appreciating what you already have. It might be more accurately described as the thief of gratitude. When you constantly compare yourself to others, it becomes difficult to value what you possess in the present moment. Instead of fixating on what you lack, try to focus on what you do have.

Edited by Georgia E Cook