Self Esteem: Comparison

The reason I want to discuss self esteem is because I think it's the root cause of any problem anyone ever had. When you feel you've got high self esteem and you realise you can cope with anything, you can achieve both in your training and diet, and find success in your physique and fitness goals.

Today Im going to discuss a particular behaviour that can affect our self esteem.

Q. How many of you have ever compared yourself to another person?

A. Almost everybody.

Q. How many of you have ever compared yourself to another person and came out exactly even?

A. No-one.

Comparision of accomplishment:

I love a good e-card sometimes. But in all seriousness...Never compare yourself to someone else's achievements or what they are doing. Sometimes we succumb to the pressures of society to complete things within certain time constraints but there is no right time or one time that anyone should do anything.

Comparison is one of the things you have to stop if you’re going to have high self esteem.

As psychologist Jack Canfield says "I generally find that comparison is the fast track to unhappiness." Because you’ll never come out even when you compare yourself.

If you’re going to compare yourself at all compare everything! For example, if you’re going to compare your tennis game to John McEnroe you’re probably not going to win but at least then compare your emotional ability to not blow up and you’ll probably beat him on that score.

You may compare yourself to someone who’s better in business than you but they might not have a better relationship than you.

The bottom line is to just be yourself. If you find yourself comparing yourself to someone else...just stop it!

We are all unique beings on our own journeys. To compare ourselves to others brings nothing but misery. Stop living your life through others' standards and start realising your own story. And whilst you're at it, incorporate a little gym time into it.

Comparison and self-image:

In today's world we are constantly surrounded by images in the media of celebrities and models, retouched and edited to perfection. This often leaves many people (women in particular) feeling inadequate as they chase an unobtainable level of perfection of their own...airbrushed skin, 'perfect' hair, a faultless physique and symmetrical face, dictated by what the media says is attractive.

The pursuit of physical 'perfection' is often the root cause of eating disorders and decreasing self-esteem. In reality no one is this perfect, for perfection itself is imperfect.

Never aim to be anyone but yourself, stop comparing yourself to the images you see in the media. You are perfect as you are. Unique in your individuality.