You’ve probably heard that saying before?

Maybe seen it on a meme or ten?

“Comparison is the thief of joy”.

Up until fairly recently I’d have agreed.

I talked in yesterday’s blog about how we often compare ourselves to a top 1 or 10% level of something and feel inferior when that’s not where we’re at.

But……….

Can we do without any comparison at all?

Our brain is comparison making machine.

It’s how we function.

It’s comparing things all day every day.

The speed of that car versus our position relative to it.

Comparing that to memories of similar situations.

All without us realising it.

We make comparisons in work situations.

We compare films and TV we’ve watched to other films and TVs.

We compare the level of enjoyment we get from different things in making our decisions on what we’ll do.

Going for a workout versus watching the tele with some “treats”.

Our food choices.

And so on.

We are comparison machines.

So, at best, all we can hope for is to be selective about what comparisons we make.

Some will tell you never to compare yourselves to other people.

Nice idea.

But does that actually then happen?

Could we instead be selective with that comparison?

Not drawing comparisons with the 23 year old model who lives with their mum and, essentially, gets paid to train and eat well.

But perhaps with those that we perceive to be somewhat similar to us who are achieving in a way that we’d like to and that is feasible?

Not beating ourselves up because they’re doing it and we’re not.

But looking at how they do it.

Not just the things that are done.

But the approach.

The mindset underpinning what’s done.

Drawing inspiration from that ‘moving towards something’.

Could we compare where we are now with where we were a week, a month or a year ago?

Measure backwards.

To see what worked and build on that.

And, perhaps, what didn’t work so well and course correct accordingly.

Could we use all of these comparisons to, in fact, create joy?

No comparisons is impossible.

Attempting that will probably lead to our default comparisons.

Which is fine.

Until it isn’t.

Being selective with our comparisons can build momentum and confidence.

Chase progress.

Create joy.

Much love,

Jon ‘Time, Baghdad or Hearts?’ Hall

P.S. Clicking this link will maximise the chance that your make progress (or, at least, damage limitation) for FREE this Christmas, rather than slipping further backwards and regretting it –> www.myrise.co.uk/apply

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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!


Jon Hall
Jon Hall

When not helping people to transform their lives and bodies, Jon can usually be found either playing with his kids or taxi-ing them around. If you'd like to find out more about what we do at RISE then enter your details in the box to the right or bottom of this page or at myrise.co.uk - this is the same way every single one of the hundreds who've described this as "one of the best decisions I've ever made" took their first step.