“Comparison is the Thief of Joy”

In a world that places a high emphasis on personal achievements, such as GPA, extracurriculars, and competitions, it’s easy for students to compare their successes to others. You don’t have to look hard to see that comparison is a big issue among high school students. Comparison can also be seen on social media. Seeing others having fun with friends and family, or enjoying a nice vacation while you’re simply lying in bed can be discouraging. However, Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” This means that comparison can make people feel inadequate, ultimately robbing them of joy. So, how do we get out of the habit of comparison?

First of all, it’s important to realize that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Comparing yourself with others has no benefits and it dismisses the fact that everyone has their own gifts and talents to offer. For example, a student may struggle with a math class, but excel in other classes such as English or Chemistry, while another student who loves math might struggle with English. And that is okay. 

Comparison also has negative effects on self-esteem. It can be disheartening to see someone with a better test grade, or someone who ultimately seems to be having more success. One thing that I’ve been learning is that your self-worth doesn’t come from personal achievements, but from the fact that you are a person, and your life is valuable. Therefore you don’t need to get discouraged when you fall short on your goals. 

Additionally, comparison is futile because you don’t know what someone else is going through. Someone may seem to have their life together (good grades, lots of friends, lots of extracurriculars). However, this is very unlikely. People may act like they have it all together and put on a happy face before going out in public, but the truth is, everyone has struggles, and you’re not alone. 

 Instead of falling into the trap of comparison, let’s all try to be there for each other and celebrate our successes.