Why Comparison Is the Easiest Trap to Fall Into by Aaliyah Sharma

 Why Comparison Is the Easiest Trap to Fall Into by Aaliyah Sharma

  It starts quietly. You see someone’s grades, their art, their clothes, or their life online, and you tell yourself you’re just admiring them. But somewhere in that admiration, a little voice starts asking why you’re not like them. Comparison creeps in without warning, and before you realize it, you’re measuring your own worth by someone else’s highlight reel.

  I’ve noticed how easy it is to slip into that mindset, especially now when everything is visible. Social media makes it impossible not to compare. Someone always seems more accomplished, more confident, more put together. But what we forget is that we’re comparing our behind-the-scenes moments to someone else’s best ones. We see the end result, not the process. We see the photo, not the breakdown behind it.

  The truth is, comparison doesn’t motivate — it drains. It takes away the pride we should feel in our own progress. It makes achievements feel smaller and happiness harder to hold onto. No matter how much we improve, there’s always someone doing more, and that cycle never ends.

  I’ve learned that the only fair comparison is the one between who I am now and who I used to be. Everyone has their own pace, their own timing, and their own story unfolding quietly in the background. Maybe the point isn’t to catch up to anyone else, but to learn how to be proud of where you already are.