Life is full of comparison. Babies are born, measured, weighed, and immediately placed in comparison with all the other records of babies born, “she’s 7 pounds 2 ounces, which is in the 67% percentile”. Kids are measured at school based on test scores, and parents participate by asking their kids to be more like so-and-so.
As if a life of comparison wasn’t enough, we double down and celebrate competition as one of the highest forms of success. While this works great on the field, it is an awful ingredient for home and work life. When there has to be a winner and a loser, everyone is a threat. Sometimes that includes ourselves.
Ultimately comparison results in two stances in relationships: Inferiority or superiority. Neither of those two kinds of people are enjoyable to be with. It’s either a bottomless hole of pity, or an untouchable pedestal of amazingness. The result: Everyone is looking at someone else to tell them if they’re ok or not.
Want out of the comparison rat race? Celebrate. Rejoice in the successes of others.
Celebrate the gifts, efforts, and attitude of someone (including ourselves), not just the results.
Celebrate them as a human being, not a human doing.
Be a cheerleader, not a critic.
(And try not to compare how well you’re doing celebrating!)
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