How to Stop Comparing Yourself To Others
Be a better you with these simple tips!
Feb 19 2018 20 comments 1,607 13
Since birth, we are engaged in an endless competition with our peers and others around us. Proud mothers brag to their friends that their child spoke/walked/read much sooner than the average child. In school, those with higher grades and test scores are rewarded academically. Those with better looks/more money are rewarded socially.
The need to compare ourselves and compete with our peers has been so deeply instilled in us. Pressure from friends, family, and the education staff reinforces the belief that we need to be the best.
Time and time again I have seen this effect on other models and creators negatively. In comparing themselves with others they perceive as more successful, they do nothing but beat themselves down.
As a smaller creator, I am guilty of this myself. It can be so hard to grind and grind (even at a job you love) and see thousands more successful than you. However, over time I’ve come to realize this mentality is much less “inspiring” (as I used to believe) than it is destructive. Comparing yourself to others does nothing for you except bring your mood down and in some cases create unwarranted resentment.
In light of all this, I have two suggestions:
- First: look at other models you aspire to be like. Take inspiration from them, without directly imitating them. Learn what they have to say. Respect and admire the hard work they've put in to get where they are today.
- Second: (and more importantly) work to shift your competition away from others and onto to yourself. Compete with your past self to become a better version of you in the future! Try to grow/earn more than the previous month, or improve your camera/editing skills, or whatever it may be.
There's no need to make yourself over something you haven't achieved yet. If you’re competing against yourself to become a better you, the victories will feel so much sweeter.
Sometimes I look at where I am today and can’t help but feel slightly discouraged… But, then I think about how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned, and how far I have to go in the future. It's made a world of difference for me, maybe it could help you some too.
Thank you for reading! Please feel free to share your stories regarding this topic in the comments. I’d love to hear them!
I loved this! I will definitely remember this as we all struggle with this.
Great article! Especially for newer models or those with more niche content this can be challenging but it's so important to remember.
Thank you! I was just hoping somethings I’ve learned could help come one else
We all need reminders of this! I agree, it's tempting to get caught up in the search for "inspiration" and to want to emulate others who are more successful. Unfortunately, it's true that this glorification of others can quickly turn into negative emotions about our own self worth. I am definitely guilty of this! I love your tip about measuring success within your own life as opposed to comparison with others. So helpful❤️
Thank you so much for your kind words! 💕
This is just what I needed to hear! Sometimes ya gotta remind yourself that this is the best job ever, and to have fun with it! All of the models uniqueness is what makes us so amazing
Exactly! Thats a great mentality!
❤️❤️
thanks for the positivity!
You're welcome!
This is great advice.
Thank you! 😘
You need in life to only be set by your own personal bar and not that of others, striving to do better than what you have done previously
I completely agree! That’s a great way of putting it 😊
I feel the same quite often when i scroll thru Twitter or such and i know its only gonna make me depressed but its really hard to stop myself doing it
Agreed! xx
I’ve been trying to be more mindful of when I do this (which is pretty often), which is what inspired me to write this. Hopefully if you hold it in your mind that you don’t need to compete with others it will be easier to deal with. It’s been difficult to work on but worth it for sure ❤️