8 ways comparing yourself to others only slows you down

The hardest thing in the world is accepting yourself, imperfections and all. We’re all our own worst critics, and that makes the whole ‘self love’ thing an ongoing effort. It’s the most important kind of love you will ever experience and it takes by far the most work. It’s easy to look at your best friend, your boss, or maybe Jennifer Aniston and think, why can’t I be more like her? Don’t get me wrong, I will forever be Team Jen despite how old and tired that pop culture reference gets, but there can only be one Jennifer Aniston, so why would you try to mold your life into the one that already belongs to her?

Here’s the thing. You’re perfect just the way you are. Whatever flaws you think you’re currently cursed with, you’re wrong. Know why? Because there’s only one version of you out in the world, and for that reason, you’re the best YOU there is. Confused? Unconvinced? Here are all the reasons comparing yourself to others only slows you down.

1. It undercuts every awesome thing you’ve accomplished

Nobody else on the planet has accomplished the same things you have, in the same amount of time. Be proud of that. Be proud of yourself, and own the fact that none of it was easy. You worked hard to get where you are. Don’t ever forget that.

2. It’s never going to help you

Trying to be like someone else isn’t going to score you a promotion that you deserve, or a date with a guy or gal that will turn into long-lasting love. If you can’t be comfortable being you, then you are guaranteed to be miserable.

3. It’s a vicious cycle

Here’s how it’ll go down: You see someone who has more than you have. You decide you want all of those things. You change your true self to achieve those things. You don’t achieve those things because you’re not being genuine. You are bummed about your failures and go back to comparing them to the other person’s success. Then it starts all over again. Does that sound like fun? Nope.

4. It supports a ‘Grass is Always Greener’ mentality

This is unhealthy. There will always be things in this world that you cannot have. It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how beautiful you are. If you spend your life chasing everything you have yet to attain, you will never be fulfilled.

5. It’s unfair to your loved ones

If your significant other or your best friend detects your ‘grass is always greener’ behavior, they’ll wonder why they aren’t enough to keep you happy. That sucks. They deserve better than that.

6. It creates unhealthy habits

The initial thought comparing yourself to someone else is only the beginning. It’s a gateway into making physical and emotional changes through destructive methods. If you go deep enough into this thought, you’ll have a whole lot of trouble climbing back out.

7. It obliterates your confidence

The right amount of confidence is as valuable and can do as much for you as money. And when you acknowledge that everything you are is just not enough, you are essentially punching your confidence in the face.

8. It’s a distraction

It’s easy to swirl around in this mental cycle all day, every day. But don’t you have things to do? Don’t you have a job and career goals and a family and hobbies? Don’t use the time you could be using to do something that makes you happy on something that will forever make you feel like garbage.