Don’t Compare!

Some years ago in the UK, there was a very popular tv advert, for a financial services company with a Welsh tenor Wynne Evans, who played a fictional Italian opera singer Gio Compario.

His dulcet tones and the catchphrase “Go compare” to this day reverberates through my head.

“GoCompare, GoCompare! We provide the know-how so you can get the price down. You’ll thank your stars that you went to GoCompare!”

It is my experience however, we do too much comparing ourselves with others.

It is a growing global obsession.

We can fall short when we are sucked into the idea of comparing our worst to others best, our weaknesses to their strengths.

“But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”— 2 Corinthians 10:12

“When we compare ourselves to others, there can be only two results. Either we will see ourselves as better than others and become judgmental and critical of them, or we will see ourselves as less than others and become anxious, self-critical, and discouraged. Comparing ourselves to others is rarely productive, not uplifting, and sometimes downright depressing. In fact, these comparisons can be spiritually destructive, preventing us from receiving the spiritual help we need.” – Vern P. Stanfill

Social media can especially be misleading.

A friend’s social media persona may look perfect, but guaranteed they’ll be struggling with things too.

Me included!

No-one is perfect.

When you compare your life to the life you think your friends on social media have, you will almost always come away feeling despondent and discouraged.

Mark Twain once said, “Comparison is the death of joy.”

And Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Comparing ourselves never brings joy.

In short, by comparing yourself to others, you are holding yourself back.

Remember, each of us are uniquely different.

You’ll find yourself much happier when you – Don’t Compare!

Instead, start celebrating the differences that make you uniquely you!