The Trap of Comparison—And What To Do About It
Comparison is a toxic game to play because no matter who wins, someone else loses. This inevitably ends up with you feeling either superior or inferior—neither of which are good. We shouldn’t spend our time and energy creating human hierarchies.
And to be perfectly frank, it’s a pretty unreliable system anyway. There are always going to be people who you are “better” than. And there are also always going to be people who are “better” than you. And so the feelings of superiority and inferiority teeter-totter back and forth as you compare yourself to various people, and you never really get a secure sense of self.
This is also really true when it comes to body image and how we tend to compare our bodies to others. It might not even be something you do intentionally, but your brain just goes on auto-pilot whenever you’re around other people. It takes some time and effort to break that habit, but it’s well worth it. Below are some body acceptance affirmations you can use when you find yourself falling into the comparison trap.
It’s natural to compare, but not helpful in developing stable self-confidence. Breaking the habit can make a huge difference in how you see yourself and others!
If you need some support in making peace with your body image, book an appointment for 1:1 therapy or coaching.
I’m Cherie Miller, MS, LPC-S, founder of Nourished Soul Center for Healing and @foodfreedomtherapist on Instagram. We offer therapy and nutrition counseling for chronic dieting as well eating disorders like Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Orthorexia, ARFID, and other food issues. As anti-diet professionals, we are passionate about intuitive eating and Health at Every Size philosophies. Contact us here to schedule a therapy or nutrition appointment.