5 Ways to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

By Lashawnda Becoats

As we stay connected to what everyone is doing via social media, television and conversation, it’s easy to see how feelings of inadequacy can creep up on you. Unfortunately, this type of emotional drain is more common than most people would like to admit.  

Lately, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with men and

Lashawnda and Louis
Lashawnda Becoats and her dog Louis Vuitton.

women who are stuck on the need to measure their lives against other people’s lives. People tell say to me, “they look as if they are so happy and successful. I wish I had that.”

I don’t believe in comparing. I believe everyone must learn to understanding their value and learn how to consistently acknowledge their own merits. When I tell them to stop it they say, “I can’t help it.” I believe people who measure their lives against others forget who they are and get lost. That’s when the feelings of inadequacy creep in. Once you begin to feel less than, it’s easy to continue to allow those feelings to take center stage in your life.
As a life coach, I tell my friends and clients that success looks good on you and your version of success doesn’t have to look like everyone else. One of my favorite personal mantras is: “They can do what you do, but they can never do it they way you do it.”
 
Stop comparing your life to others. Here are 5 things you can do now.
5. Check your self-esteem. When your self-esteem is out of whack, you do whack things. Ask yourself these questions: why do I care about what he/she is doing? What can I do to improve my situation?
4. Assess your success. Define what success means to you by writing down the accomplishments you’ve made this week, this month or even this year. Be mindful of those successes by thinking about them often. When you feel the need to compare yourself to others, pull out your list and remember what you did.
3. Compete with yourself. As you gain confidence in your own accomplishments make those accomplishments a part of a bigger plan that you want to create for yourself.
2. Celebrate yourself. Don’t wait for someone else to pat you on the back. Learn to say, “I’m proud of myself for____.”
 
1. Keep it positive. Limit your interactions with negative people that make you feel as if your life is insufficient. You’ve got your own life to live. Run towards your life, not someone else’s.
Lashawnda Becoats is a certified life coach. Visit www.runtowardyourlife.com