Comparison and authenticity

A phrase I use often is, comparison is the thief of joy. Comparison is a sneaky emotion that shows up when we look at what other people - and think, why don't I have that? It immediately makes me feel like I'm not good enough. And social media as a yoga teacher - where how many followers you have to how many ab muscles you have - pulls me right into the comparison trap.

Beyond the surface level of comparison makes us feel crappy, what else is actually going on inside us? I think not only is comparison a thief of joy, it also robs us of our authenticity, our individuality, our unique spirit, our personality. That special soul each one of us is.

What if, instead of comparison, we chose connection? And what if the first connection we made was to our whole, complete self? Every time we measure ourselves against someone else’s highlight reel, we risk abandoning the very parts of ourselves that make us who we are. In chasing someone else's version of perfection, we step further away from our own truth. The result? A quiet form of self-abandonment. Where we silence our inner voice and ignore who we are, to fit a mold that isn't meant for us. We also start to trust ourselves less and lose ourselves more in the process.

Why is authenticity important? Because the world needs you, just as you are. I'm 100% serious. Every single person has something of value to offer. Maybe not to everyone, but to someone, you can make a difference when you show up as you, share your story, and give your heart. If we were all the same, the world would be incredibly boring. And sure, when you show up as yourself, maybe some people won’t like that you're not fitting into a mold. But who cares? Those aren't your people. Let yourself be YOU. Let yourself believe in YOU.

How can we practice authenticity? Why not bring in some mindfulness! Authenticity requires presence. It calls us to stay rooted in who we are, even as the world swirls with images of who we could or should be. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully aware in the present moment without attachment. Training your attention to be in the here and now with wisdom, clarity, and kindness in an intentional and non-judgmental way. When we compare, we leave that grounded place. We trade connection for competition. We aren't here to replicate each other, we’re here to relate to each other.

What can we learn from others instead of comparing ourselves to them? Instead of shrinking in the shadow of someone else's success, what if we let it inspire us, inform us, even remind us of what’s possible? Not as a measuring stick, but as a mirror reflecting our shared humanity. Remove perfectionism, people-pleasing, comparison, and the belief that you’re not enough. Replace it with inquisitiveness and curiosity. For me, instead of saying, wow, I wish my ab muscles looked like that and feeling bad about myself, I can learn how that person got such great abs and try their method of exercise and eating.

What if you started recognizing that your authenticity is your superpower? That no one else can do you the way you do. And next time you feel comparison creeping in, come back to your mindfulness practice. Pause. Breathe. Root into your body. Come home to yourself. Choose your authentic self over self-abandonment. Choose yourself, just as you are, over comparing yourself to anyone else.