How often do you compare down?
Currently, I am travelling in Sri Lanka and India and two thoughts have come to mind:
Comparing down, and
Sonder
Comparison is the thief of joy
You probably know this already, but when we start to develop a skill, our minds seek those who are masters of that skill and we begin our comparison.
Comparing up is sometimes good. It keeps us wanting and yearning to improve but too much can often lead us to feel inadequate.
However, at times, we can compare down. Compare ourselves who are both less proficient. This can make us feel better — but how horrible is it to think you are better than somebody else?
If you have that above thought, then this is where I think documenting your learning process is really important. By doing so, you have frozen your state of skill in time. That means when you go back in time you can review what you were like back then. You might cringe, but that’s a good thing because it’s a sign of improvement. You will almost always improve and when you look back you are comparing yourself to your less skilled and developed self. That will make you feel better.
It is a difficult thing to do. Because we often want to look good in front of others and ourselves. But the best thing you can do is document, for yourself and even others. We now have the power to share our journeys online like a public personal journal. This is what I am trying to do with Instagram and even this newsletter.
I am trying my best to share the journey of learning and to do so in public. This helps me when I look back but also inspires others who may be on that same journey.
A recent venture I have done this is pole dancing. I have started videoing myself and sharing online. Even if I’m terrible, I know future self will be so grateful. I regret not doing this for weightlifting as I have hardly any older footage of my learning journey of the Snatch and Clean and Jerk.
Sonder
This moves me onto my next realisation.
So far I have been engrossed in my own problems. I thought I was the only person who had them.
But everyone no matter how beautiful, privileged, or rich are going through some kind of issue or problem. You start to realise how much less important money and success is once you realise that everyone and everybody is going through sometime.
So it’s more important to make the most out of the present moment.
Everyone wants a life of success but embrace the struggles in life because this is what makes you.
I hope you found this rambling useful. I hope to talk again soon.
Please let me know what you think.
Stay focused and talk soon,
Shivan