by Giridhari Das
Contributing Author, Conscious Reminder
Here’s an essential advice to be happy: don’t compare yourself to others.
Especially, don’t compare yourself to other people’s best version of themselves on social media. So, what standard should we use to judge ourselves? Here I’ll explain these points.
Strangely, we like to hurt ourselves. We like to trash our self-esteem, severely criticize ourselves and, in general, find ways to make us feel bad. It’s bizarre, but everyone does it or has done at some point. Some people do it all the time.
One way to hurt yourself, which is common and damaging, is to compare yourself to others.
Externally speaking, anything we have – any ability, any aspect of our body, career, relationships and everything else – can be measured in comparison with another, in a depreciative manner.
It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s certain that someone else has a better body, better hair, a fatter bank account, a better car, more fame, more confidence, more charm… and so forth. Even among spiritual types you get this, where people compare themselves with others to see who meditates better, chants kirtan better, knows the sacred texts better, are more devoted to God or are closer to the guru. It’s nuts!
Worse of all, these days we compare ourselves to the very best version of others, carefully crafted and manipulated on social media. It’s not enough that the other person is better looking, we want to compare our tired version in front of the bathroom mirror with that person’s photoshopped picture, with just the right angle, light and smile. We want to compare a difficult day at the office, with someone’s romanticized and highly edited version of their vacation. It’s a painful illusion.
We are all unique individuals. Each one of us has his gifts and his challenges. Each has his story. It’s impossible to compare. There is no use, and it doesn’t help.
It’s self-torture to compare yourself to others. Don’t let your mind slide into this mode of thinking. With your power of self-observation and self-command, stop your mind from doing this.
Comparison is natural, however. So, let’s choose a healthy standard for comparing ourselves: let’s compare ourselves, to the very best version of ourselves! When you act, ask yourself: “is this the best I can do? Am I showing the world the best version of myself?” This works and this is useful! Strive to be the best person you can be. You have to want it because it takes strength of will, grit, and determination to do so. The result is awesome though: you’ll feel great and you’ll make the most of your life.
The world doesn’t need you to be like anyone else. It just needs the best version of yourself.
In the book, “The 3T Path” (http://3tpath.com/books/), you’ll learn just how you can be the best version of yourself, untapping your full mental, emotional and spiritual potential.
Watch my video on this topic here:
Yours,
Giridhari Das
About the Author:
Giridhari Das – I was born in Prague in 1969 as Gustavo Dauster, the son of a Brazilian diplomat. My name is Giridhari Das, or Giri for short. I am a self-help and spiritual teacher, author, and speaker. I have been practicing bhakti-yoga, the yoga of devotion, and working with self-development for over 20 years. I believe we can improve ourselves with a transformative process to meet and transcend the challenges of life in the 21st Century, based on the knowledge of yoga found in both ancient Sanskrit texts and the latest research in the fields of positive psychology and neuroscience. The focus of my teaching is the 3T Path, a systematic, modern presentation of the ancient path of self-improvement and self-realization in yoga and Krishna consciousness. I developed the 3T Path after many years of dedicated study and practice, to share my experience and realizations in bhakti, and to address the needs and challenges of people today.
You can connect with me on YouTube, Facebook and Insta
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