COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS...

Growing up as a kid, my parents did this one thing. This was something a lot of other parents did too that I noticed. Whenever I underperformed or failed a subject in school, my parents would always ask me to compare myself to my classmates who passed. They’d make statements like “ Look at John. Does he have two heads?”

Those statements made me really sad. Just like every other child, I felt like I was a failure. But to my parents and to every other parent they just wanted us to perform like the other kid and be good at school.

Then as an adult, I started accepting the fact that everyone’s journey is different, thus, there was no need for me to compare myself to others. Even when I failed, I realized that I had other strengths where I was better and the other person wasn’t.

But now taking a look back at what my parents and every other parent that I knew back then used to do, I start to see how valuable those experiences can be …statements are.

It’s not our parent's intentions to make us feel bad. It is true that at that very moment, they were disappointed and wanted better and when they compared us to others, they were trying to tell us we are capable beyond our imagination.

Today, there’s a lot happening in the world and with social media and everyone trying to impress online. A lot of us compare ourselves to our peers who seem to be successful and a lot of times get involved in activities that we shouldn’t just to prove ourselves.

It is my view that if we must compare ourselves to others then we should do it for the right reasons - to be motivated to become better.

If comparing yourself with a peer who has a successful business is going to make you become motivate you to become serious about your finances, then go ahead. If comparing yourself with your peer will help you become better in your academics, finances and health, then do it.

Like Seth Godin said, “Consider who you Jones are and choose them wisely”.