Comparison kills happiness

Emma's Enlightenments

This Week’s Advice: Comparison kills happiness. 

This piece of advice in particular means so much to me because it is something I have always done. 

Growing up, I didn’t have much. We were paycheck to paycheck, so I was constantly comparing myself to other kids with more. I would dream about their houses, their toys and their parents. 

This already created an unhealthy relationship with both myself and my experiences. 

If you’re in constant comparison, you can’t ever be happy with yourself. 

I learned this the hard way. I was constantly wishing to be someone different, or in different situations, which only made me unhappy with the life I was living. 

As I grew up, the subject changed, but the action was the same. 

I saw gorgeous girls, who I started to compare myself to. I witnessed others getting a position or team I wanted. I always wanted to be better, but I always felt so selfish. 

When I was cheated on, this only got worse. I went as far as bleaching my hair blonde, after he bought me the bleach, because I thought if I was his type on paper, then he would stop cheating on me. 

Long story short, he didn’t. 

That hit me hard. 

Everything about my mindset changed, 

It didn’t matter how I looked, or how much I compared myself to others; I was always in the same boat.  

The only thing that could change was me. 

I had to find happiness within myself, not the comparison of others. 

Comparing myself didn’t do any good, in fact, it made my mental image of myself so much worse. 

This can relate to this week because as finals and upcoming tests approach, remind yourself not to compare yourself to others. Some classmates may have performed better on a test or classwork, but that does not make you any less than them. You are still worth the same without being the best. 

The best is simply a concept. Who are we to decide that one is better than another? 

It’s created to create more competition, meaning more stress in daily activities. 

You are perfect how you are. You don’t need comparison to thrive. The only thing that matters is how you feel about yourself. You need to find the perfectness within yourself and the image you have. 

Do what makes you happy. 

Be who makes you happy. 

You are you. 

Take pride in that fact.