It is a natural human tendency to compare, but comparison is the thief of joy. We often compare ourselves to the various practices of life. This includes relationships, career, wealth, and physical appearance, among others. Since it is a natural human tendency to compare ourselves, it harms our well-being and mental health. Hence, we say comparison is the thief of joy. In this article, we will discuss why comparing ourselves with others is not a healthy practice. Keep reading the article to know more!
Comparison is The Thief of Joy Meaning:
Before we give the brief reasons as to why comparison is the thief of joy. Let me tell you the meaning of the statement. You might be a working professional or a student, and it happens that you end up comparing either your work performance with your coworker or your marks with a fellow friend. This leads to an unhappy mental state. This practice of comparison can be detrimental to your mental health and hence is called comparison is the thief of joy. Now that you have got a good idea about the statement let us head to the reasons which will elucidate the meaning of the statement further.
Reasons for Comparison Thief of Joy:
In this section of the article, we will discuss some pressing reasons why comparison is the thief of joy. Let us have a deeper look at them.
Leads to Negative Image:
We will often find ourselves in a negative image when comparison becomes our habit. When we constantly focus on comparing ourselves with others, we focus on our flaws and shortcomings. We start believing that we are not good enough and incapable of achieving success. As mentioned earlier, this will lead to a portrayal of a negative self-image. This portal of negative image leads to unhappiness. Hence, comparison is the thief of joy.
Not only this, but it can also lead to depression, anxiety, and very low self-esteem. We start doubting our abilities, and our confidence begins to fall. Not only this, we also tend to believe in ourselves less, and this can be a hindrance in our way to progress and success.
Leads to Unrealistic Expectations:
When we often have the habit of comparing ourselves with people who achieved success without considering their journey to achieve that success leads us to the creation of unrealistic expectations. We forget the fact that everyone has a different journey, and success is not always measured by the same standards. You consider the example that we often compare our career progress to that of a colleague who seems to have achieved more success than us. But we do not consider their sacrifices or the challenges that came their way while getting there. Hence, we do not consider their challenges and the potential risks which they took to achieve success. This comparison is the thief of joy. By constantly comparing ourselves with others, we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. This leads to disappointment as well as dissatisfaction. Not only will we try to achieve unrealistic expectations, but we also have a
Can Distract Us from Our Goals:
Comparison is, in a true sense, the thief of joy, and it can distract us from our goals. Comparison is a practice that does not lead us to focus on our goals and aspirations, making it difficult to focus. We become more focused on what others have, and this leads us to lose sight of what matters to us the most- our ambitions, desires, and dreams. We waste our time worrying about other people’s achievements without focussing on our own progress. This leads to an unproductive cycle that can prevent us from reaching our full potential. It will constantly make us feel that we are inferior to others and we do not have what it takes to achieve the things that we want, and this will create a very wrong space for individuals to be in. Comparison of this sort will be detrimental to our mental health and will divert us from having a calm mind to work towards our goals and aspirations. Hence, comparison is the thief of joy!
Builds Sense of Jealousy and Resentment:
Constant comparison can build a sense of resentment and Jealousy. When we constantly compare ourselves with others, we constantly focus on what others possess and what we do not. This leads to feeling envious and acting with bitterness toward the ones who have achieved success or have something that they desire. These negative emotions are very toxic and will lead to strained relationships with others. We tend to become resentful towards the ones who have what we want, and this leads to a sense of loneliness and isolation.
So, it is very important to not compare ourselves with others as it will lead to bitterness in relationships which would create a negative mental space. The constant practice of comparing will lead an individual to feel alienated from his peers as they will have what they desires to have. This will lead to low socialization, and the individual can feel neglected and isolated. So, comparison is the thief of happiness.
Prevents us From Experiencing Joy in the Present Moment:
By constantly comparing ourselves, we tend to become so focused on achieving something that we forget to live in the present moment. Comparison constantly steals our joy to live in the present. It makes you miss out on the good things that are happening in your lives, and you become quite like the ones who always focus on achieving what others have. This creates a negative space to be in as you keep missing out on the joy of living in the moment. This indirectly will lead you to feel very desolated and will build up anxiety as you will not have any happy reasons to look forward to. Hence, the comparison is the thief of joy.
When we miss out on the little thing and joys in life, we miss out on the moments which will not come again. Hence, it is important to not constantly indulge in competing with others. Hence, it is quite depressing when constant comparison becomes a habit. This can especially be seen in teens and young adults.
Conclusion:
Comparison is the thief of joy as we miss out on moments, people, and experiences that can not gained back. This constant comparison will lead to unrealistic expectations and build-up of negative emotions such as resentment and jealousy. Hence, it is not encouraged to constantly indulge in comparison; instead, focus on individual growth and development and learn that everyone’s journey is different and has different achievements to achieve. In this article, we have briefly talked about the statement’ Comparison is the thief of joy.’ That’s all, folks. I hope the article helped you in getting all the information you needed.
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