If comparison is the thief of joy…

If comparison is the thief of joy, how do we find the joy again when it's been stolen?

Okay, maybe that's a bit of a cheeky way to say it, but for real. 🧐

If I'm comparing myself to someone else, and that act of comparison diminishes (or deletes) my joy in whatever I have created, how can I reconnect with my joy?

Do I stop thinking about other people and focus only on myself?
Do I put aside the object of comparison and focus on something else?
Do I go back to basics and find little things to be joyful about?

Or maybe... what if comparison doesn't *have* to be the thief of joy?

What if I compare myself (or my work, or my life) to someone else, and when I find something "lacking", I instead take a moment to pause. ⌛

And what if instead I ask myself a few questions:
"What about that person (or their work or their life) do I wish I had?"
"And if I had that thing/quality/accomplishment, how would my life be different?"
"What part of that different life do I want the most?"
And finally, "What do I need to do to create that life for myself?"

Maybe it's easier said than done, but it seems like this kind of comparison could actually prove powerful.

I'm looking out in the world, seeing the life of another person, thinking about what makes me want that life, and figuring out my next step to get there.

Who knows, it could even spur me to take powerful actions I'd never previously considered.

Huh. 🤔

I may have just talked myself into thinking comparison is actually useful...

Check back with me in a few weeks, and I'll let you know how it goes. 😉