Is it normal to compare yourself to others?
5 facts that can impact your happiness
This is the seventh article in a series where I explore why we compare ourselves to others and share five key facts that can impact your happiness, emotions, thoughts, and daily life.
Of course comparing yourself to others is natural human tendency and is not inherently bad.
In fact, we do it all the time!
We compare ourselves with others in our age group, and we compare our knowledge and abilities with others in our field. All of these are good things.
However, comparison can be a double-edged sword.
It can be a powerful motivator, but it can be a strong obstacle for us from doing something. It is also not good for our mental health in the long term. If you think about the people who you consider to be better than you in some way, you can often fall into this trap.
In the end, it’s important to find balance so that comparison helps you, not holds you back.
🤔 Is comparison the same as jealousy?
Comparison is something different from jealousy.
When you compare yourself to others, it can lead to a feeling of jealousy or envy.
We struggle when we compare someone’s success with our journey, especially when we’re starting out whether in our career, our studies, or in our personal life.
Comparing is a natural human tendency and can help us improve ourselves. However, when you are comparing yourself without that purpose, it can lead to a kind of uncomfortable feeling of jealousy.
What is the difference?
Comparing and or envying the way someone is or something that someone has can impact your self-esteem and make you feel inferior because that person has something you would like to have and you do not.
With jealousy you may feel that another person is getting the opportunity or attention you want for yourself and because of that person you do not get it.
Comparison and Envy are two open subjects for debate and discussions. Just know that both can impact your self-esteem in a positive or negative way.
If you are going to compare, compare yourself to what you want to be in the future and work to make that a reality.
Just be aware of the difference and do not fall into jealousy mode.
🎵 Famous examples of comparison in music
Comparing ourselves to others is as old as humanity. In music we have several examples.
The most well-known case occurred in the XVIII century where two great composers were having rivalry. It was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri.
The second interesting example come from the XIX century: rivalry between Nicolo Paganini and Karol Lipiński.
Let’s find out a little more about these two interesting examples.
🎹 Mozart and Salieri
Salieri, speaking of Mozart:
Tonight… stands a giggling child who can put on paper, without actually setting down his billiard cue, casual notes which turn my most considered ones into lifeless scratches… [That] ensured that I would know myself forever mediocre.
Peter Shatfer, Amadeus, 1980.
I strongly recommend watching the movie Amadeus directed my Miloš Forman to understand more about the drama of Salieri and Mozart.
However, if you prefer reading to watching a movie, the book is even better: Amadeus by Peter Shafter.
🎻 Niccolo Paganini and Karol Lipiński
Niccolò Paganini and Karol Lipiński were renowned violinists in the first half of the 19th century. They often challenged each other, and undoubtedly, the audience compared them, while they also compared themselves.
The story goes that Paganini was once asked who the best violinist in the world was. His response was, “I don’t know who is the first, but the second is definitely Karol Lipiński.”
Given their exceptional performances, fame, personalities, and other factors, it’s nearly impossible to determine which of the two was more famous. Both Paganini and Lipiński earned their own share of acclaim, each leaving a lasting legacy in the world of music.
That’s all for today! See you next week!