FASTEST WAY TO FEEL UNHAPPY? COMPARE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
We are prone to self compare ourselves with others knowingly or unknowingly. The damage it does, as a result, is not just one but many. It triggers us to perceive ourselves as mediocre people and others as best people. Deep down, we all feel, that something is there inside every one of us, holding the potential to achieve something of great value. We are so desperate to show our worth.
The sad thing is that we are not aware of our strengths. The worst combination is when the enemy called comparison also joins with ignorance and sets its foot inside our minds and hypnotizes that we are average people who would always be many steps away from succeeding to have the life that we all dream of. It weakens our self-esteem, hope and confidence. When we let comparison take control over how we see and think things, it means we are sweeping gratitude off from our lives. Not having a substantial amount of hope, self-esteem, gratitude and confidence is a dead-end for meaningful living.
COMPARISON HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE SINCE BIBLICAL AGES
The comparison game just didn't pop up with the introduction of social websites and up-gradation of our lifestyles. It has been there for many centuries now and the proof can be found in the bible too. The story about Jacob and his brothers and how comparison made Jacob's very own brothers turn up against him. Similarly, there are many situations which show comparison's role played by people back then. If you have had a good read, you would have come across the warnings given by the apostle Paul.
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;” (Rom. 12:6).
in 2 Corinthians 10:12: “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
Here, he says that every one of us has been gifted with various skills and virtues. He emphasises that we are designed in a way to have different talents and skills from others. He tells us that we should be grateful for that and we should never try to compare our gifts with that of others. We should not develop superior or inferior feelings from comparing and if we do so, we are then nothing but just fools.
MODERN APPROACHES TO HELP US STAY WAY FROM COMPARISON:
1.Hike your own hike
There is a common motto among hikers: " hike your own hike" which means, resist the urge to compare how far you have come with how far others have gone. This concept denotes that in the end, everyone is going to reach their destination and that we should just focus on your progress without giving a damn about others. If we inculcate this into our lives, we can steer clear of comparison and unwanted negativity.
2. Turning the weakness into strength
It is very easy to fall into the downward spiral of comparison and get hit by jealousy. What if I tell you, you can use this very thing as a tool to boost up your confidence and gratitude? The very thing which destroys your life can be used to elevate your life. You would not hesitate to utilize that tool right? Okay, now let us see how it works.
