Do you scroll social media for hours and suddenly feel less attractive or less successful?
Well you are definitely not alone.
Comparing ourselves to others is a common behaviour that can have negative effects on our mental wellbeing. While it’s a natural part of human interaction, too much of anything can be a bad thing. Along with the distorted sense of reality that online perceptions perceive.
Research from Masters Counselling shows that constantly comparing ourselves to others can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.
The next time you catch yourself falling into the trap of believing that everyone else has it better than you, remember that comparison can steal your joy, kill your confidence and hurt your mental health.
It’s important to break free from this cycle and learn to appreciate and accept yourself for who you are.
Here’s how you can do just that…
The first thing to do is to recognize, reflect and understand why we compare ourselves to others. Often these comparisons are not for achievement motivation, but rather stem from internal insecurities and societal pressures. By being aware of these triggers, you can catch yourself in the act and take a step back.
Now let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others and Be Confident in Your Own Skin
1. Take a Break from Social Media
Scrolling through social media can often lead to feelings of inadequacy. It has a way of highlighting our insecurities and making us question our own happiness and self-worth. Despite our best efforts, these feelings can still creep in.
One strategy to combat this is to unfollow accounts that trigger negative emotions and instead prioritize real-life interactions with genuine people. By shifting our focus away from the edited perfection of social media, we can cultivate a more authentic and fulfilling sense of self-worth.
2. Cultivate a Gratitude Mindset
A gratitude attitude is a powerful tool that can be used whenever we want to help enhance our lives.
Personally, I get the warm and fuzzy feelings inside with gratitude. It fills me with a sense of contentment when I take the time to reflect on all the things I am grateful for.
Instead of seeking validation and acceptance from external sources, it’s important to first validate ourselves in order to reduce feelings of envy towards others.
One effective way to do this is by reflecting on our accomplishments and the positive things that happened throughout our day. Keeping a journal to document the positive experiences and blessings that occur can be incredibly beneficial and healing. It also helps to acknowledge and celebrate our own abilities, worth, and unique journey in life to diminish the impact of our negative comparison habits.
Remember that comparison is the thief of joy. By focusing on building confidence from within, we can begin to shift our attitude and mindset from scarcity to abundance.
This practice, when consistently applied, has the power to transform our outlook on life and bring about a greater sense of fulfillment and joy.
3. Set Your Own Personal Goals
This is my number one strategy for breaking free from comparison and getting out of my own head. The key is to set goals for yourself.
Define what success looks like to YOU and develop a plan to achieve it.
Aim for goals that are both attainable and meaningful to you. By doing so, it can help you focus on your own journey rather than comparing yourself to others. And that’s what life is all about, making your own journey or path in this world.
Remember to take time to celebrate your accomplishments along the way. Whether it’s a small achievement like finishing a project at work, sticking to a new routine, or simply getting through a challenging day, take a moment to recognize and celebrate your wins. These victories, no matter how big or small, will boost your confidence and reinforce your self-worth.
4. Develop a Positive Self Image and Self Compassion
It’s time to be kind to yourself. It’s not uncommon to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we do others.
While sometimes it can be helpful because it pushes us to better ourselves, it can also lead to feelings of inadequacy.
What if we treated ourselves with the same level of compassion and understanding that we show our loved ones? What if we used kinder words when speaking to ourselves?
We’re all unique in our own way, from our talents, traits and even life experiences. These are the things about ourselves we should be using to boost our self esteem and make us feel good about our own individuality, not bring us down. Instead of focusing on our flaws, we should celebrate what makes us special and different.
5. Surround Yourself with Positive and Supportive Influences
The company you keep close can either uplift you or bring you down.
Surrounding yourself with supportive and positive influences is like giving your confidence and overall wellbeing a big boost.
When you have people around you who believe in you, encourage you, and genuinely care about your success, it’s hard not to feel good about yourself. And when you feel good about yourself you’re less likely to worry about negative self-comparisons and competitions. Whether it’s friends, family, colleagues, or mentors, having a strong support network can greatly influence how you view yourself and approach life’s challenges.
Positive influences can help remind you of your strengths, lift you up when you’re feeling down, and push you to strive for more. The power of positive relationships should not be underestimated – they have the ability to transform your confidence and mindset in incredible ways.
6. Remember That Everyone Has Their Own Struggles
It’s easy to think that others have it all together, but the truth is, everyone has their own challenges and insecurities.
We all struggle with different emotions and navigate through hard situations in life.
Remember that what you see on the surface often hides a more complex reality.
You’re not alone in feeling the way you do, and your struggles are just as valid as anyone else’s.
7. Seek Professional Help if Needed
At times, the tendency to compare ourselves to others becomes deeply rooted and challenging to overcome on our own. If you find yourself struggling with intense feelings of inadequacy or depression, it’s important to seek assistance from a mental health professional.
It can be incredibly beneficial. Therapy can provide you with the tools and strategies you need to build self-confidence and overcome the habit of comparison.
Breaking the cycle of comparison is a long continuous journey for some. It requires mindfulness, self-compassion, and a commitment to focusing on your own path. By using some of these strategies, you can start to build a sense of self-worth that is independent of others. Remember, the only person you should strive to be better than is the person you were yesterday.
Embrace your uniqueness, celebrate your achievements, and be confident in your own skin. Your journey is yours alone, and that in itself, is something to be incredibly proud of.
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Thank you for reading! If you have any additional tips or experiences you’d like to share, feel free to leave a comment below. Your story might be the inspiration someone else needs.
Thank You Credits: Photo by Laura Tancredi on Pexels.
Master’s Counselling Calgary. (n.d.). The Toxic Habit of Comparison. Retrieved from https://www.masterscounselling.com/the-toxic-habit-of-comparison