In some forms, but we also cant improve if we have no idea what to compare too.
No not at all
I compare myself to people all the time and thank my self that I am not that fucked up person.
I agree to about 50% of that.
Comes misery?
Comparison is the thief of joy
Depends what you’re comparing to. One of the ways I deal with stuff I’m finding unpleasant is to compare the experience to a worse situation. My work can be stressful, but at least I don’t work 9to5, 48 weeks a year like so many people do. I’m renovating a house and it’s exhausting and such a long commitment, but at least I’m in good health. Many of my friends have health problems that would make heavy labour and climbing on roofs impossible, so when I’m tired and achy at the end of a day I try and see it as a sign of my good health and strength.
Obviously, if I compared myself to a younger and fitter person, whose knees wouldn’t hurt and didn’t need to wear wrist braces, that could make me feel bad or envious and that would be dumb. Only make comparisons that highlight how lucky you are to be you.
I read about the lives of terrorists, mass murderers, and I feel so much better lol
Because at least I’m not that fucked up
Depends on how realistic your expectations are for yourself.
If your comparison is aspirational, identifying places where others succeed so you can figure out how to adopt their methods yourself, it can be quite beneficial.
If you’re not adopting an active-improvement mindset, and you’re essentially just dick-measuring, then yeah you’re eventually gonna be miserable. There’s always a bigger dick.
Jup. Also if you have self worth problems, looking at people around you with a realistic sense of their personality and skill can help to think “I can’t be that much worse”.
Comparison is the thief of joy
Comparison is the thief of joy
If only someone prominent said that very damned thing 70 years ago. This entire thread could have been solved in an instant.
Oh hey I actually didn’t know that was a Teddy Roosevelt quote til I googled it just now. I just thought it was some kind of proverb
“If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.” - Desiderata
Yes
Nope, I like a good A/B comparison. I recently compared two whiskeys from a distillery; one their regular release and one aged in sherry casks. The side by side comparison made it easier to pick out the difference between the two. The comparison makes whiskey tasting all the more enjoyable.
I love a good A/B comparison on just about any food or drink.
Comparing things yes comparing yourself to other people nah.
Nope. I compare my squat form to some peeps on the Internet to identify areas I can improve. I compare how I feel in a romantic relationship to how my friend does, a friend I admire and think has a really healthy approach to relationships, to learn from her. I compare my dress and behavior to colleagues at work to make sure I’m in the realm of matching professionalism. Comparison is not by default bad in all contexts.
For most people under most conditions I’d guess so, but it’s not inevitable. It’s all stardust in the end, and I think you can compare yourself favourably or unfavourably without too much danger, if you keep that well in mind.
Not if you only hang out with losers!
Or if you’re already the best, have the biggest weenie, etc…like me.
You’re the best until you are not. Then they are the best until they are not. Then they are the best until they are not.
I’d say yes, as this is what i’m currently experiencing (by comparing myself to others). I’d agree with @agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works’s stance. If you’re not trying to improve and just bashing yourself, you will go down a spiral of misery. I feel like the self-improvement part requires some balance though. You can use this comparison as a source of intrinsic motivation, but you need to keep it from becoming too much to where you become demotivated, keep telling yourself that it is possible, that you can do this.
Of course, because with everything comes misery.
