Comparison-The little thief of joy

I know I cannot be the only one who has compared themselves to the people around them. Whether it was about looks, accomplishments, or where I am in life compared to others my age.

If you have ever done that before, then you know exactly what I mean when I say it can take you down a negative mental spiral.

You start beating yourself up for not doing as much.
You start asking yourself, Am I doing enough?
Slowly, you feel your sense of self-worth begin to slip.

I am currently in my first term of medical school, and if there is one thing this environment can magnify, it is comparison. You are surrounded by incredibly intelligent, hardworking people, and it becomes so easy to look around and feel like you are somehow falling behind.

But I am here to tell you something that I am learning myself: a lot of it is happening in your own head.

You are doing enough. In fact, some would say you are doing more than enough.

All we can really do is show up each and every day and present the best version of ourselves that we can in that moment.

And sometimes that “best version” looks different depending on the day.
Some days it is productive and confident.
Other days it is simply getting out of bed and trying.

But by choosing, every single day, to show up for yourself—especially on the days when you barely want to—you are already doing more than enough.

I know it is easier said than done to stop comparing yourself. Sometimes those thoughts pop into your head before you even realize it. They sneak in quietly and begin to tell a story about who is doing better, who is smarter, who is further ahead.

But please do not let those thoughts push you down.

Because the truth is, while you might be sitting here comparing yourself to someone who seems smarter than you, fitter than you, or getting better grades than you—there is someone out there looking at you with that exact same thought.

There is someone out there inspired by what you do and by how you show up.

So in the midst of comparison, take a step back.

Appreciate who you are.
Appreciate what you bring to the table.
And most importantly, show kindness to the parts of yourself that make you you.

Because the things that make you different are often the very things that make you enough.