Written by Elliott Caras, Studio Owner & Personal Trainer - Vision Personal Training Clarence St, Sydney
We all do it and we all have done it, comparing ourselves to others that is. Isn't it funny how we always seem to compare ourselves with those who we perceive as having or achieving more, whether it be talent, status, money, power or material items. A sure fire way to be unhappy is to compare yourselves with others. It is a false benchmark of your own success and development.
The goal of beating your personal best should be your focus and desire. Realising your potential is your journey and responsibility.
If you fall into the habit of continually comparing yourself to others, you will ensure that you are perpetually unhappy and unsatisfied, no matter how much you achieve.
Here are 3 ways to avoid falling into the trap of comparing yourself to others:
1. Think about how far you have come, as opposed to how far you have left to travel.
This is made much easier by keeping a journal or dream book (I will write about designing your own dream book in an upcoming post). A dream book is the collation of your goals for the future and goals achieved. As you progress through life, a commitment to journal entry or a dream book will pay dividends in the confidence and sense of accomplishment you will feel.
As you build a portfolio of YOU, the collection of your life's wins combine to create massive forward momentum for your future, providing you with the perspective of how far you have come.
Imagine the confidence you will feel when 5 years after setting and committing to paper a BHAG (big, hairy, audacious, goal) you can write in your journal or attach a photo of you having realised that very dream, it is immensely powerful.
2. Be true to yourself and live a life by your own values and beliefs - you will be judged anyway.
There is nothing riskier in life than getting to your last days wishing you had lived a life more true to yourself and not what others had expected from you. I was told PT was risky and getting into business was even more risky, I'm very glad I did not listen to the naysayers and followed my own path. There is way more risk living someone else's life rather than your own.
3. Compare yourself only with yourself, no one is better at being you than you!
It is human nature to compare, this is not a bad trait if used the right way. Redirect your focus on others and turn it onto yourself by asking the right questions:
- What are you doing right now in your life that correlates directly with your own set of values?
- List the things you are doing now that you couldn't do 5,3 or even 1 year ago?
- What will you do today that will shape your future and move you closer to your goals tomorrow?
- Which new decisions have you made or what new actions have you taken that have resulted in you moving in a new direction in your life?
- What have you done recently that you never thought you could do?
- What have you experienced for the first time this year?
Essentially these questions get you to think about how you are becoming a better person, and taking ownership, responsibility and accountability over your life. We are all different and have different gifts, backgrounds, experiences and intentions for our lives.
Commit to a continued existence of beating your own personal bests and to become a new and improved version of yourself.
You are the subject matter that counts. Comparing ourselves with someone else is an inaccurate and irrelevant measurement of success.
Be happy, be you.
Elliott Caras.
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
