Comparison is the Thief of Joy

There will be someone with a nicer house than yours.

There will be someone with a more attractive partner than you have.

There will be someone with more money than you have.

There will be someone with a more loving family than yours.

There will be someone with more strength and athletic ability than you.

There will be someone with better grades than you.

There will be someone with more opportunities than you.

When we look to compare, we will almost always find someone better than us at something, or someone who is in a better circumstance than we are. When comparing as a means to honestly assess where we are, comparisons can be a positive way to encourage us to continue improving. It is also a positive comparison when we are using someone or something as a benchmark we want to reach. However, when comparisons are done to simply compare, they can detract from what we individually bring to the table and lower our self-confidence in a counterproductive way. Comparison is the thief of joy when performed in this manner.

The meaning of “comparison is the thief of joy” is very simple. When we choose to compare just to compare, we open ourselves up to losing happiness. As outlined above, when we seek a comparison, we will almost always find someone better than us. By choosing to avoid meaningless comparisons, we will actually find ourselves having increased self-confidence and belief. In choosing not to compare, we are also limiting our personal feelings of apprehension about what other people will think of us when we do certain things. By not comparing, we are performing actions for our individual reasons and our individual purposes.

Outward comparison is the targeted form of comparison for this idea. Just because we are choosing not to find meaningless comparisons with others does not mean we are not constantly comparing ourselves to ourselves. We are who we should be using as the primary source of comparison in our lives. It is me vs me. Where we were 3 years ago is hopefully very different than where we are today. This sort of comparison is a provider of real emotion because it showcases the growth and evolution we have undergone. Comparison amongst ourselves is also the most honest form of comparison because, at an individual level, we are the only ones who have had the same circumstances, opportunities, and experiences as ourselves. This means that we are able to more accurately determine root causes for why our lives are the way they are. If we were comparing outwardly, assumptions could be made, but we ultimately would not have all the facts on hand to make accurate comparisons.

Stop letting comparison steal the joy in your life. Appreciate where you are and what you have in your life. Look back fondly on the journey you have endured to become the person you are today, and be excited for who you will become. Life is not you vs everyone else, it is you vs you and me vs me.