The benefit of comparison is perspective. Let me explain.
Earlier this week, I found myself in the downward dog position at a hot yoga class here in my hometown of London, Ontario. Now, normally, I wouldn’t look around during a class; I’d concentrate on my own moves, my own journey, but this gorgeous head of gray hair on a woman three down the row to my right caught my eye.
“Oh,” I thought, “look at how gorgeous that woman’s hair is.” A stunning shade of gray. And then, as I looked closer, I noticed she was really buff; she had a really enviable arm definition. Something I completely lack. And I started to go down a comparison spiral. But then, my eyes trailed down a bit more, and I realized she was performing all the same moves as me… only she had a prosthetic left leg from the knee down.
Holy crap…
As I went through the class, I glanced over in complete awe that this woman, perhaps in her 60s, fit and trim, with gorgeous hair and toned arms, put zero limitations on herself.
My thoughts had shifted from envy to perspective. The power of comparison, in this case, was perspective.
You see, lately, I have been complaining about back pain, hand pain, you name it, and I was whining. As I was going through this class, I realized that I needed to be grateful for my body and all its moving parts. Sure, I have a goal to get more firm, but I am a healthy woman, and I need to focus on the right thing.
Now, let me be clear about comparison. There are always things you don’t know about people you are envious about. Let’s say there is a speaker who you’ve felt jealous of because of their career success. You don’t know what their origin story was or how many nights they laid awake worrying about money in the early days. And don’t ever assume that you do.
If there is no benefit of perspective to gain, there is likely no benefit to comparison. No upside. Remember what Theodore Roosevelt said: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
And we definitely don’t want to compare someone else’s year 15 to our year 3.
Everybody has their own path in speaking. Keep your eyes on your own journey and stop the cycle of comparison and envy in its tracks.
I’ll see you soon Wealthy Speakers!
