Comparison - the other's "way which seems right"

Human beings have the tendency to measure their achievements by how far others around them have gone. Peers, friends, even siblings sometimes.

So most times, we relax and feel good when we perceive we are doing better than others or at par, and then get agitated, pressured, discouraged or even depressed when we perceive others are doing better.

Either way, this is dangerous. On one hand, if we relax because we seem to be doing better than the person beside us, we might just be robbing ourselves of reaching our full potential, grabbing the next opportunity, or stretching farther to nailing that next big thing. And this, I say, makes comparison an enemy of progress, a belt which limits growth, encourages complacency and rescinds greater accomplishments. 

On the other hand, why get depressed over another person's achievements? It should always feel great to know that you have friends in high places! Someone to call when you need to fix another in a job, someone you can count on for a quick loan, and most importantly, someone who can impact your life positively, and make your reality easier by giving you the right connections when needed. Therefore, rather than compare and then feel pressured, it is just right to rejoice with the person, learn one or two things that have helped their growth, and apply them if necessary.

Suffice to stress that checking the similarities and differences with someone running an entirely different race is suicidal to your destiny. You lose focus and sight of your own journey. And like the popular saying goes, the only person you should compete with is you. How better are you than who you were? 

A twist to this,which could be considered more dangerous and somewhat scary, is when two friends compare their prayer lives and their results! One prays not as much and seems to get big results while the other wonders why he should pray more to get results at all! This could a topic for another day.

However, the point here is that you must understand your OWN journey and run your OWN race. You are on a different track, have been programmed for a different destination, therefore a different strategy might just be required. 

Always remember, there is just enough grace for your race, even if you need to work harder than the rest. 

Understand your purpose, run your own race and celebrate your wins!

Happy 2025!