Way too often, we compare ourselves to others. This is something we need to stop doing immediately. When we start comparing ourselves, our situations, our sense of success and base it on how others appear to be doing, remember, it is just an appearance. We never really know what type of problems or issues that other person may be dealing with, it may be stress, ill-health, a family crisis, or any number of issues or problems. When we compare ourselves to others we are taking how we feel inside, how we talk to our self, how we stress about situations and try to balance it all out on the other person’s outward appearance. That other person may appear to be calm, cool and collected, but we are not privy to the fierce storm that may be brewing with in their own mind. Many times, if we only knew what that other person was dealing with, we would gladly keep our position where we are and not, by any means trade what we have for what they have.

The only person that you can fairly compare yourself too it the person you see in the mirror each morning. If you want to strive to be better, strive to be better than YOU were yesterday. You will never win the comparison war with another person, you can’t keep up with Jones’ and live a healthy, productive life.

No matter what stage of life you may be in right now, I can guarantee you that no matter how good or bad you have it, someone somewhere will have it worse of better than you. There are people right now, that would give anything to have or to be what you are right now, you say that is foolish? If you really believe that no one has it worse than you, go visit a homeless shelter, visit a cancer center, volunteer at a senior living facility, visit a recovery center, or just slowly walk through your neighborhood. Some one will always have it worse than you, and someone will always appear to be better off.