Stop comparing start living

The gym is an amazing place to observe human behavior. Saturday morning gym session is a ritual for my wife, Jennifer, and I. During every busy session at the gym I’d observe person A enjoying their workout until person B starts working out alongside.  Person A puts in a vigorous effort then prematurely ends the workout next to Person B and seeks another apparatus.This happens when Person A believes that Person B has a better physique.
Comparing oneself to others has two likely outcomes:
1. You feel that you are better than the other person and that makes you feel good about yourself.
2. You feel that the other is better than you are and that makes you feel inadequate.
It is extremely difficult not to compare oneself with others. It might be a trait that’s coded in our DNA. We don’t just compare physical appearance. Our perceived financial situation is also high on the comparison list. I say perceived because what you see does not always accurately represent a persons actual situation. Comparing oneself to others can be healthy if it motivates you to stick to your goals. You observe others as a yardstick to measure your progress. In this case you use others as role models and instead of elevating them to a status of ‘they are better than me’ you honour the work that they are doing on themselves. Comparing is definitely unhealthy when it hinders you from living freely. I’ve noticed males and females at the gym wear loose gym attire which covers their entire body and when they believe that they have a body worth showing off they switch to tighter revealing clothing. Comparisons can be positive or negative, the idea is to let go of the type of comparing that gets us nowhere by making us feel inadequate. Comparing yourself to others will lead to you beating yourself up for what you are not, instead of being grateful and enjoying what you are. This brings me to the third alternative and that is to be comfortable with who you are on your journey to the person that you developing yourself into. When you are comfortable with yourself you don’t minimize yourself nor do you elevate yourself amongst others you live authentically.