There are two types of comparison.

Upward and downward comparison.

The differentiator between the two forms of comparison, how we process the information.

Upward comparison leads to self-improvement and motivation. This usually occurs when you compare yourself and note positive similarities. (She also liked the economic philosopher Thomas Sowell)

Downward comparison occurs when we compare to someone who we feel is insurmountably better than us. This results in an erosion of self-esteem. (She’s more ___ than I’ll ever be) Another form of downward comparison occurs when we compare ourselves to someone who has attributes we don’t view as negative. (That loser is unemployed, too).

The comparison is not always a negative thing. Understand that different forms of comparison have different impacts, choose upward comparison.