“Experience is the only path to knowledge, comparison perfects it.”
— Sri Aurobindo
Comparison is known to be the thief of joy. Comparing how much we have to people who have more makes us unhappy. Ditto with comparing our lives’ behind-the-scenes to others’ highlight reels in a social-media-dominated world. Others appear happier, richer, fitter, and more social (which is not necessarily true).
But the fire that burns your hand can also cook your food. What matters is how you use it. Comparison can become the fuel of progress if you choose to learn from someone better than you.
If you want to become fitter, focus on what you can do to be more like your fittest friend. How often do they exercise? What is their diet? What do they do when they can’t exercise? Plus, compare the results from your actions with the ones you want. Such feedback will keep you on the right path.
But don’t get stuck in comparison so much that you lose track of how far you’ve come. Remind yourself how you overcame problems that appeared insurmountable, that others look up to you today, and that you must keep the faith.
Act with faith and even the stars will change their path.