Comparison is the unofficial hobby of the digital age. We scroll, we swipe, and before we know it, we’re tallying up invisible scores against people we’ve never met. Someone’s vacation in Greece becomes a referendum on our weekend laundry pile. A colleague’s promotion feels like an audit of our own career. Even a stranger’s smoothie bowl can make us question if we’re living our lives wrong.

It’s funny when you think about it. Comparison sneaks in wearing the mask of motivation. Look at them, doing so well, you can do it too! But by the time it’s settled into our heads, it’s less cheerleader and more heckler. Suddenly, your perfectly fine Tuesday lunch feels like a failure because it isn’t sprinkled with chia seeds and photographed in golden-hour lighting.

The irony is that much of what we compare ourselves to isn’t even real. Social media feeds are highlight reels stitched together with filters and careful cropping. Yet we treat them as real life and see them as proof that we are behind and lacking. They make us feel that if we just pushed harder, maybe we’d catch up.

But here’s the catch: there is no catching up. Life isn’t a race with a single track. Your pace is yours. Their pace is theirs. Comparison only succeeds in convincing us that we’re all running the same course, fighting for the same prize. No wonder it leaves us suffocating and unsatisfied.

The real price of comparison is distraction. It pulls us out of our own lives, and makes us rent space in someone else’s story while neglecting our own. It tells us that what we have, who we are, and where we’re going is never enough. And that constant whisper is exhausting.

So how do we fix it? We can’t banish comparison completely, I mean, it’s human. But we can stop paying its daily toll. We need to remind ourselves that someone else’s timeline is not our deadline. That someone else’s beauty, success, or joy doesn’t diminish our own. And that sometimes the best thing we can do is put down the measuring stick and enjoy the life that is already in our hands.

We should concentrate on our own path and appreciate our growth. Constantly comparing ourselves takes away our happiness. It's important to practice mindfulness and be thankful for what we have instead of always trying to compete.

One way to reduce comparison, is to limit your time on social media, where idealized images can cause feelings of inadequacy. Also, be selective about the accounts you follow and the content you engage with, so your algorithm doesn't fill your timeline with things that promote comparison.

Setting personal goals based on our values rather than external achievements helps us stay authentic and grounded. It helps us focus on what really matters by creating a deeper sense of purpose and satisfaction. As long as we align our goals with our core values, we'll be resilient against societal pressures. Living this way makes you happier and more fulfilled.

This is Where I Leave You: Comparison will always try to force its way in, but you don’t have to give in to it. Your life is far more precious than anyone else's highlight reel. Live it boldly, own it fiercely, and that alone is more than enough.

If this post left you nodding along (or side-eyeing your phone screen), the conversation doesn’t stop here. I talk about this same theme on my podcast, This Is My Voice, where I share a more personal side of living with comparison.

You can listen to the companion episode wherever you get your podcasts, just look for Reality Check.