Why Comparison is the Thief of Joy (And How to Break Free)

From a young age, I remember looking to others to help me define who I was. I didn’t know who I wanted to be, and honestly, I had more things about myself that I disliked than things I appreciated. I sought validation from culture, from the people and trends that seemed well-liked and popular. In my mind, if they were admired by others, surely they must like themselves. And so, my journey of comparison began.