It’s human nature to compare and to even judge…but at what cost?
You’ve likely heard the phrase by Theodore Roosevelt…”Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Why then do we do it?
Why do we make comparisons to and between things?
For example:
- Comparisons to expectations (e.g., I wasn’t as productive as I should have been this week)
- Comparisons between ourselves and others (e.g., I bet they are happier than me)
- Comparisons between ourselves and who we were (e.g., I sure feel older today)
- Comparisons to standards set by others (e.g., I bet it won’t even get accepted)
Can you feel the joy being sucked right out of the air?
I can, even as I type.
For me…as I continue my journey, I’m practicing letting go of comparisons….
Comparisons to what was, to what others have, and to what others think, comes at a price…the price of joy…. 
the joy in being present, the joy of being who we are, and the joy in what we have accomplished.
P.S. I also found the two tips from Danielle Laporte’s post “Comparison is Killer” to be helpful in my own journey toward non-judgement awareness. And if you’d like one more strategy, check out this blog by Danielle Dowling titled, “Why I Stopped Comparing Myself to Others.”
P.P.S. If you are looking for a great book to share during professional development to help participants explore the costs associated with making comparisons, or to share with early educators, check out Andrew Newman’s children’s book titled, “The Elephant Who Tried To Tiptoe“. Click here to download an educational guide Mayra Porrata and I made for the book (and a few others of his amazing books).