KEY INSIGHT: Social comparison is a fundamental human tendency that served useful purposes in tribal environments (learning from others, understanding group norms) but becomes destructive in the modern context of curated social media and highlight reels. You’re comparing your complete internal experience – including all struggles, doubts, and setbacks – to others’ carefully selected external presentations. This creates a systematically biased comparison that will always make you feel inadequate. Additionally, everyone has different starting points, genetics, resources, and contexts, making direct comparisons meaningless. The only relevant comparison is your current self versus your past self. Progress is individual and non-comparable.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How much time do you spend on social media looking at health, fitness, or weight loss content? How do you typically feel after that exposure – motivated or inadequate? When you catch yourself comparing to others, what’s the specific thought? (“They’re doing better than me,” “I should be further along,” “What’s wrong with me?”) These thoughts reveal the comparison trap at work. And ask yourself: Has comparing yourself to others ever actually helped you progress, or has it only made you feel worse?
TODAY’S EXERCISE:
Conduct a social media audit and comparison detox:
This week:
Create a progress journal focused only on you: Each day, write one way you’re better than before. Not better than anyone else. Just better than past-you. After a week, read through this journal. This is your real progress – measured against the only comparison that matters.