There’s a quote, “comparison is the thief of joy”, and I completely agree. It’s so easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to people you want to be more like or people who are ahead of you with a goal you’re working on, or even yourself at another point in your life. But these types of comparisons will make you feel bad if you dwell on them. Sure, take inspiration, but don’t get stuck focusing on other people’s achievements.
There have been times when I’ve been very frustrated with myself, even when making progress, because I was comparing my progress to someone else’s. But lately, I’ve come to realize that I’m sucking the joy out of weightlifting because I keep comparing my current numbers to my previous ones (pre wreck about a decade or so ago, when I lost weight by eating properly and lifting heavy). I loved lifting before, and I’d like to feel that joy again.
Going forward, I’m going to try to focus on what I’m accomplishing now, and to do that, I’ve got to accept a few things:
- obesity didn’t happen overnight, and I won’t fix it overnight
- I’m not in my 30’s anymore (I’m in my mid 40’s), and recovery is slower, and injuries happen more easily.
- Progress is progress, and I should celebrate each one.
- There is no going back, only going forward.
Has comparison affected you lately?