Compared To Who?

At a recent social happy hour, I found myself surrounded by a variety of strangers from all walks of life introducing themselves to one another. Somehow their job titles intimidated me. I found myself feeling less to them because I knew their titles meant they made far greater salaries than I did, but why did that matter to me? Who said they were better? What value did I lack that they had over me to deserve more money? Not only was this evaluation superficial, it was unhealthy thinking. Somewhere in my upbringing, money was enforced as the sole system of value and validated hard work, intelligence and competency. I am an extremely hard worker, very intelligent and competent in way more fields than I have time to invest in, so why did someone’s job title make me feel less in myself?

Why are you comparing yourself? What are you comparing yourself to? Who’s voice from your past is enforcing that comparison? How can you turn comparative thinking into productive thinking? Be proud of you. You have always been enough and you must remind yourself of this everyday. Try not to stop yourself because of ideas passed to you from others that had nothing to do with you.

-Busy Brain

“When we were very young we are neither individual nor informed. We have not had the time nor the wisdom to develop our own standards. We must compare ourselves to others, because standards are necessary.”

-Jordan Peterson