Comparisons Should be Avoided: Always Compare Yourself To Your Former Self

When we seek self improvement it is not uncommon for individuals to look at someone who is successful as inspiration. Then again, it is also not uncommon to look at someone who has performed poorly and use such a person as an example of what to avoid. While these comparisons are common they need to be tempered with good judgment and common sense.

Remember, you should always compare your own progress based on your own skills and not someone else’s. Looking at someone who outperforms you and considering yourself a failure because you can’t match that particular person’s skill level is self defeating and unfair. Equally avoidable should be looking at someone whom you are outperforming and saying “I’m better than that person.”

If you received a D on a test and said “Well, so and so got a D- so I must be smarter” what would that prove? And, for that matter, how would it make your next test performance any better. Ultimately, if you want to succeed you need to look at your own skills and weaknesses and decide on how to improve them based on your own performance??¦not someone else’s! This will keep your own self improvement in perspective and on track for actual improvement.