Five Ways to Quit Comparing Yourself to Others
Comparing ourselves to others isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s helpful. For instance, “by matching yourself against another, you learn how to define yourself,” said Deborah Serani, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and expert in mood disorders. You learn your likes and dislikes, and discover the values that are – and aren’t – meaningful to you, she said. It gives you insight into whether you have the right skills and training for a new position, performance, sports team or any other pursuits. It also helps you figure out your compatibility in relationships, she said. Comparison making becomes problematic when “it crosses the line from productive to obsessive, or from inspirational to stressful,” said Ashley Eder, LPC, a psychotherapist in Boulder, Colo. Here are five tips to help.