Oh, don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how good they are! Their trouble is that they are only comparing themselves with each other and measuring themselves against their own little ideas. What stupidity!” (2 Cor.10:12 TLB)
Comparison is a double-edged weapon! Either way it turns, it pierces or wounds. If you use it to denigrate or downgrade your person, you unknowingly insult, assault and afflict the very essence of your image. While you unknowingly destroy the very essence of your image by your self-assumption or superiority on the other part.
In this age of social media, the tendency is to get competitive, self-conceited, jealous or depressed when you view pictures or videos posted. Also, one could get into the booby trap of comparison in our day to day real social interactions. Moreso, in this generation that most people want to outdo their neighbors, friends, colleagues or even siblings.
Comparison can be an emotional trap for its victim. It’s a major cause of depression. I read from Huffpost.com about a recent study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology that comparing our lives to the “fabulous” ones we see on social media may be what causes depressive symptoms associated with Facebook browsing. It’s important to note that it’s not the social website that causes the negative emotions, but the mental comparisons or notes we make as a result of the content we see.
According to Teddy Roosevelt, “Comparison is a thief of joy.” When you think your friends, siblings or colleagues are doing better than you, your joy maybe slaughtered at the abattoir of comparison. While your creativity for advancement maybe stunted when you think you are better than everyone around you.
Hear this: “Nothing is as it first appears” says Dr. Mike Murdock. Do not be deceived or entrapped by the portrayed pictures others want you to see. People have their strengths and weaknesses; but they present to you what they want you to see or hear. There is no wisdom in comparison at all, according to our scriptural text.
It’s obvious that what we need to overcome the emotional entrapment of comparison is to develop the right attitude which involves our thoughts, emotions and actions. And what a joy! The Word of God has the applicable wisdom to develop the right attitude that will empower us to avoid this booby trap. Here are some of the wisdom keys.
1. Guard your heart with all diligence and renew your mind with the Word of God.
2. Be authentic! Be yourself! You can’t be everything; accept everything you are and everything you aren’t.
3. Love and hold on to your image which is created after the image of God.
4. Know your why and stay on your lane!
5. Have an understanding that the things we see are subject to change!
6. Know that you only need the approval of Two Persons – God and You, to ever prove yourself.
7. Be responsible and creatively seek to improve on yourself daily, deliberately and consistently.
The good news to those that believe in Christ is that we have an incomparable destiny in God.
“ Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God,…: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)
To your incomparable destiny,
✝️Tochukwu Kemakolam
Prime Minister