A popular quote by Theodore Roosevelt says:
“Comparison is the thief of joy”
But is that necessarily true? Comparing who you are and what you’re doing in life has never been more prevalent than today in the world of social media. I promise you, I get it. I see it. If you feel like you’re losing because others are seemingly doing more than you, or doing better than you, it’s really just time for a perspective change, right? Why can’t we let comparison be a catalyst for change?
If you’re breathing, then there is still time to change and do something different. Something great. Something spectacular. It is never too late. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you currently know, what your age is… none of that matters. The only real limits we have is our perspective.
I said all that to say this blog marks the beginning of a perspective change for me. Actually, more like the documentation of a perspective change. After a long career working as a web developer and software engineer for other companies, a few years back I began shifting my mentality from being an employee to becoming an employer. I have way too many ideas… BIG ideas… and what had been lacking was focus and consistency.
I see other people winning at their dreams, crushing their goals, and achieving what they set out to do. Instead of letting it steal my joy, the first thing I do is celebrate them! Second, I let it stoke the fire in me to do something great as well. There’s one thing I find myself saying every day, and it keeps me on track and motivated:
It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Just because it looks like others are experiencing success or achieving goals faster than you, and it might feel like you’re getting started too late, just remember – It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint – and you will reach your goals at the end, if you stay the course.
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Excellent perspective. It is so important to measure our success by our own Vision and Goals.
Brings to mind these sayings:
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.”- Rocky Balboa
Good read.
That’s a nice way to look at comparison. I think it comes down to what works for you as an individual, because comparison doesn’t motivate me, it depresses me for a hot second, lol. Once I think about how I don’t know all the ins and outs of that person’s success and how it’s more than meets the eye, then I’m okay. But, I’d rather skip all that and work on not comparing at all. Good post and good luck on all your endeavors!