Compare = Despair
In some situations, comparing two individuals can be a very useful thing. However, it is often incomplete and leads to a distorted and oversimplified unsupportive conclusion.
Comparing yourself to others can more than often lead to feelings of discouragement especially with our human tendency to face our desired direction and shine a light on the gaps and the distance we still need to cover.
Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
If you are not careful when you hold two people up next to each other, because they are by nature unique and materially different in almost any aspect and given their natural human tendencies to compare their own areas they wish to improve in, both individuals will come away disparaged. Humans have a great tendency to compare what is lacking in their life with what is relatively in abundance in the lives of others. We do this from a spirit and desire to progress. When we do so, each individual will come out lacking and exposed to feelings of despair unless those individuals have been inoculated with the wisdom of understanding the nature and futility of comparison.
The solution: don’t compare.
If you must compare, see it for what it is: usually stacked against the person looking inward from a beginning position of a trait they wish to improve on. Statistically, they will be looking at someone who is comparatively successful. This myopic view puts too much emphasis on areas of lack.