Limitless Monday – You Versus Who You Used To Be

Limitless Monday – You versus who you used to be

We spend too much time and energy comparing our lives to others. It is the source of much anxiety. Instead, we should compare ourselves to who we used to be.

I touched on this topic a few weeks ago when I suggested we should consider whether we would want to swap places with ourselves 1 or 5 years ago. I concluded the answer should always be no. However what I am talking about today is slightly different. It’s the idea of overcoming our constant need to compare ourselves with our neighbors, coworkers, influencers, or celebrities. It’s a sure fire way to come away from this comparison feeling unfulfilled and thoroughly demoralized.

Your focus must be on yourself. Saying that, it is always good to have a reference point. It’s a way of measuring progress. However, similar to going on a road trip, there is no need to keep checking the map every five minutes.

It’s the same in life. You must focus on what you have control over. Now and again you should check on the people you wish to emulate and see how you are doing in comparison and what you must change. But this shouldn’t be a source of despair and an opportunity to beat yourself up. You must have belief in yourself. If you are being consistent and disciplined, you will achieve your goals. It’s just a matter of when. By making comparisons with your previous self, that is a powerful way to initiate growth. Some of us do this once a year when we review the year just passed. Others do it weekly or even daily, analyzing their achievements, setbacks, and challenges. I do it daily. I am particularly conscious if I have had an unproductive day and constantly strive to change that.

It’s not a bad thing to examine and marvel at the achievement of others, however, we must reframe it differently. I think about how the one or two people I hold in high regard have the same number of hours in the day, had a similar education, and definitely had the same opportunities starting out. Don’t justify your lack of progress by saying you didn’t have the same chances as the people you look up to. It’s BS. You had your chances. You just failed to seize them. That’s the difference. You can change that.

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Today, don’t dwell on how your contemporaries have progressed further than you, focus on your goals and what you must do to smash these out of the park. The next time you bump into your old college friend who you once secretly envied, there will be a totally different dynamic. You will feel confident and content knowing that you are doing exactly what you had always planned, f*ck everyone else.

Happy Monday!

Monday Motivation. Image Credit –
SJ 📸

Banner Image: Keep going, almost there. Image Credit – Jasmin Maag