JAN 10: The Best Comparison is You Against You

We all compare ourselves to others. Sometimes our comparison is intended to inspire us or grow us. Other times, we do it subconsciously to make ourselves feel a little better about ourselves. In sports, we compare ourselves to other athletes in attempt to better prepare for a game or improve our sport. No matter what our intensions are, making comparisons can be a dangerous game if we aren’t careful. 

Beware of These 2 Joy Killers:

In this blog, I will address 2 common mistakes we make that can do more damage than good when it comes to making comparisons. In addition, I will finish with one healthy comparison everyone needs to focus on most.

Unhealthy Comparison #1 – Never compare your apples to someone else’s oranges.

“Comparison ruins contentment.” – Craig Groeschel

Unfortunately, many people are looking in the mirror of life and constantly comparing themselves to others who seem better, stronger and fitter. They often compare progress, strength, talents, abilities, beauty and even characteristics. Theodore Roosevelt once said “comparison is the thief of joy” and it’s so true. If you want to be able to enjoy your life, you have to end the unhealthy comparison game.

When you compare your weakness to other people’s strengths (which is what we normally do), we are truly comparing apples to oranges. This is not only unhealthy but it makes us forget all the wonderful strengths we do have. 

Think about it. A healthy comparison will always be apples to apples. An orange can’t ever replace an apple. Both are great fruits but radically different. You too are made unique and different just like an apple or orange. Both are sweet and equally yummy. When you can learn to enjoy who you are and how you were made, you can really begin to enjoy life and who God made you to be.

Unhealthy Comparison #2 – Never compare your apples to someone else’s rotten tomatoes.

Another trap people fall into is when people don’t look at their own life honestly. They look at their life more relatively. For instance, they may feel pretty fit compared to out of shape family members or their chicken wing beer-drinking friends. That’s like comparing a fresh picked apple to a rotten tomatoe. This kind of comparison is not only unhealthy but it sabotages your own progress. 

As soon as we elevate ourselves, we become complacent and stop looking for ways to improve. We can always improve. Comparing our best to someone else’s worst is no way to look at our life. 

“I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think (rate yourself) with sober judgment” Romans 12:3

Another temptation we have when comparing our strengths to someone else’s weaknesses is we focus so much on the other person’s faults we don’t see our own weaknesses. In other words, we fool ourselves. We can be too busy pointing out everyone’s mess to take time to recognize our own areas of weakness. It’s the proverbial plank-eye syndrome.

“First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5

True self-examination requires open eyes and a clear view of one’s real self, compared to the healthiest, happiest, best version of your own self – not compared to someone else’s hot mess. 

Healthy Comparison – Never forget your first apple seed.

A healthy comparison is to look at who you are now compared to the younger less experienced you – your younger seed.

Who does God desire you to be? Look at how far you’ve grown. Or, are you withering away and lack the nutrition to grow the fruit you were planted for? If it was just you and God alone, what are the areas you think He’d want you to work on? God would never wish you were more like someone else. He just wants you to be a better version of yourself. The healthiest competition is the old you against the new you.

“The only person you should try to be better than is who you were yesterday.” – Unknown

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Keep Your Eyes On Your Own Paper

If God had the chance to sit me down, I doubt very seriously He’d do some name dropping. He’s not going to say, “Bonnie, you are doing OK, but have you seen Kristie lately? That’s who you need to be more like“. No way! He would only be looking at my life. So, as Steve says, keep your eyes on your own paper during your self-examination time.

Remember my quote saying “I will beat her”. This year, focus on only making a healthy comparison – you against you. I know I only want to beat the old me. That’s the only person I truly compete with. Can I be a better wife, boss, friend, servant, daughter, sister and neighbor? I know I can!

30 Days of Motivation

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Scripture of the Day:

“First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5

Mantra of the Day:

“I will beat her. I will train harder. I will eat cleaner. I know her weakness. I know her strengths. I’ve lost to her before. But not this time. She is going down. I have the advantage because I know her well. She is the Old Me.” – Bonnie Pfiester