We compare ourselves to other people. It’s natural. We criticize and judge them, or we criticize and judge ourselves in comparison.

When we compare ourselves to others, we compare our inside with their outside. (tweet this)

My life-coaching client Jamie always envies her friends. They seem (to her) so ?put together? compared to herself. She feels like they are successful and she is a failure. She feels insecure and she doubts her self-worth. Problem is? she doesn’t really know what keeps them awake at night! She compares how she feels in her heart to how they look to an outsider.

In our last session, I suggested that we make a list of the progress she’s made, a list of things she’s proud of. She was amazed by how long the list turned out. Instead of comparing herself to her impression of others, she started to compare herself to where she was a year ago.

The Bottom Line: Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on the progress you have made.

Ask: What am I proud of?

Affirm: I let go of self-judgment and criticism and I focus on my progress.