The Fastest Way To Kill Your Progress.

The Ultimate Race

Life is a unique kind of race. I can’t think of any race on planet Earth that depicts what life’s race is like. A typical race will have at least two participants competing against each other to determine the winner. With life, however, we have billions of participants each in their own race, and somehow, instead of competing with other participants, sometimes the life race’s rules require us to help other participants win their race. Human beings are designed for interdependence and yet find themselves in independent races. Personal development is one of the tools that helps one grow and maneuver their life’s race with the tools it provides. Just like any race, when in the arena, it is challenging and there are obstacle courses along the way, some a part of the race and the others, self-inflicted.

Self-Inflicted Challenge On The Race

There is one self-inflicted obstacle course that will block you from showing up as the best version of yourself in the race. While personal growth is meant to ensure that you live your best life and to your full potential here on earth, hijacking the next person’s race through comparison and jealousy can put all that to a stop. You might have heard the famous statement that comparison is the thief of joy. Allow me to add that it goes on to steal your progress, your identity, and your potential. Falling into the trap of comparison causes you to downplay and let go of all the progress you have achieved; you let go of your next steps because you are so focused on the next person’s milestones. Comparison makes you forget that we are in the same arena, but we have different races. You forget that the kind of race we are in calls for interdependence instead of competition. Compare long enough, and it will turn into jealousy towards that other person. What we don’t know is that jealousy thwarts your self-confidence because you have already established that you are not good enough. The question is good enough for whose race?

God created us not only with different genetic makeup but also with different personalities, likes, and dislikes. Each of our makeup is perfectly suitable for the race that we are on, therefore it is stupid to be jealous and compare yourself with the next person because we are already different. It’s like comparing a fish and a lion.You are likely to say the lion is greater because it is considered the king of the jungle. What happens when you put the lion in water? It loses its ‘greatness’ while the fish is in its element. To avoid sabotaging your race and your personal development journey, remember you are not in a race with anyone.  Comparison and jealousy also lead to a scarcity mindset. You view the next person’s success/ milestones achieved as a subtraction in your own life or what you can attain. And with a scarcity mindset, one cannot live to their fullest potential in this race.

I will admit, especially when you are in a rut, it’s difficult not to compare yourself with others. Sometimes we compare to dive deep into the rut, and sometimes we compare to make ourselves feel better, and both ends of comparison are a chokehold on your personal development journey. Here are some ways to help you not to self-sabotage your journey through comparison.

1. You are in a different race

Remind yourself that you are in the same arena, “earth”, but you are on different journeys. Realize that you don’t have the full picture of the person you are comparing yourself to. You might be comparing your chapter 5 to their final chapter or vice versa. Always remember that the life race is meant for interdependence, not competition. From an interdependence perspective, one’s success is meant to foster inspiration, not jealousy; someone’s failure is meant to bring out compassion instead of placing you on a pedestal.

2. Keep a record of your journey

We have established that, in addition to comparison being a thief of joy, it also makes you feel inadequate (not good enough). In this case, remind yourself of the journey you have been through so far, think of the hurdles you have faced and found yourself on the other side, and back in the race. This will reposition you to a stance of gratitude, and from that position, you begin to restrategize and continue on your journey.

3. Remember, comparison gets you off your lane

Unlike getting inspired, comparison moves you away from your lane, and in most races, we know that means disqualification, which in turn means you have lost. Embrace your uniqueness and remind yourself to stay in your lane because that is where you thrive the most, just like how a fish thrives best in water and not on land. You are good enough, your personality, uniqueness were all designed by God to give you an advantage in your life race, but only when you are in the right lane.

When you decide to improve your life through personal development, don’t let comparison make your efforts go to waste.

tanyafungai