I’ve been wanting to write a book called “The Cost of Comparison and The Power Of Individuality” for almost a year.

My internal deadline for big ideas and projects is around a year. So seeing as this timeline is approaching quickly I’m taking the next week, starting today, to continue writing on this topic.

Today we start with the question “Why do we compare?”

I think there are two common reasons why:

Human Nature

Humans are prideful.

This has been an apparent quality since the beginning of time.

When Adam and Eve were approached by the serpent in the garden he cunningly argues that God is restraining them from being the gods they deserve to be. That they were missing out compared to what they could be. It was their pride that lured them to eat of the tree of good and evil, leading to their downfall.

Because humans are prideful it is our natural tendency, our human nature, to compare.

Technology

With the explosion of technology, we have seen how social media, in particular, has served as a catalyst for comparison.

Not only can you see the meals, outfits, vacations of your friends but also the lifestyles of the incredibly affluent and rich.

This insight has never been so readily available.

Luckily there are a few ways to combat toxic comparison, many of which are detailed in this book.

However, the first step is to start by acknowledging that we have a tendency to compare because of our human nature. The second step is to commit to taking action, shifting your mindset and building habits to counteract this destructive tendency.