Why Pride? Part VII. Limiting Comparisons 🤔

Climbing towards true pride: One personal step at a time

In previous parts, we explored four excellent qualities that are useful for protecting yourself from the traps of false pride. These qualities are: self-awareness, humility, compassion, and openness to feedback.

Today, we will examine another quality - Limiting Comparisons - as an additional firewall against arrogance. We'll also consider how successful people use this practice to achieve excellent results while maintaining balance.

Limiting Comparisons

Your story is worth telling. #AmericanGods #NeilGaiman

Author Neil Gaiman once advised young writers,

"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision." 

In other words, True Pride focuses on personal growth rather than constant comparison to others. It's about competing with yourself and becoming a better version of yourself, not trying to outdo everyone else.

To illustrate how limiting comparisons to others can lead to extraordinary success, let's examine the career of one of the greatest sportswomen.

Serena Williams: A Case Study in Limiting Comparisons

She's not just a tennis player; she's an icon

Tennis player Serena Williams is a prime example of someone who has practiced limiting comparisons. Despite constant media comparisons to her sister Venus and other players, Serena has always focused on her own game and personal records.

In a 2013 interview, Serena stated, "I don't think about other people. I think about me, and I've always been that way. I think about me and what I need to do to be the best that I can be." 

This mindset has allowed Serena to achieve remarkable success, including 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

Even when she didn't win, Serena's focus remained on her own growth. 

After losing the 2018 Wimbledon final, she said, "I'm just me, and that's all I can be. But for me, that's enough. That's great that I can be me and that's good enough."

This demonstrates how limiting comparisons can lead to sustained success and personal satisfaction.

Practical Tips for Limiting Comparisons

Finding gratitude in the simplest of things

While understanding the concept of limiting comparisons is important, implementing it in our daily lives can be challenging. Here are some practical tips to help you focus on your own growth and reduce unhelpful comparisons:

1. Set personal goals: Focus on what you want to achieve for yourself, not what others are doing. Create specific, measurable goals that align with your values and aspirations.

2. Keep a progress journal: Regularly document your own progress and achievements. This helps you focus on your personal growth and provides a record of how far you've come.

3. Practice gratitude: Regularly acknowledge what you're grateful for in your life. This can help shift your focus from what others have to what you already possess.

4. Limit social media usage: Social media often fuels comparison. Consider reducing your time on these platforms or curating your feed to minimize content that triggers unhealthy comparisons.

5. Celebrate others' successes: Instead of feeling threatened by others' achievements, try to genuinely celebrate them. This can help foster a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity.

6. Focus on your strengths: Identify and develop your unique strengths. Remember, as Neil Gaiman said, your unique perspective is your greatest asset.

7. Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself when you fall short of your goals. Remember that everyone faces setbacks, and they're opportunities for growth.

By implementing these strategies, you can cultivate a mindset that focuses on personal growth and true pride, rather than constant comparison to others.

Conclusion

Break free from comparisons. Embrace true pride

By cultivating Limiting Comparisons, we can achieve success while maintaining True Pride and ethical integrity. 

True Pride allows us to celebrate our achievements without becoming arrogant or closed-minded. It enables us to continue learning, growing, and contributing positively to our communities and fields of expertise.

Melissa novel

Discover the dangers of arrogance and the transformative power of True Pride in "Melissa". Available now on Kindle Unlimited and coming on October 17th in paperback. 

Find out more about "Melissa" on our website.

With thanks to:

• Gemini for its insightful proofreading, ensuring the clarity and flow of the text.
• Claude for contributing to the text improvement and captivating image prompts
• NightCafe: for Art creation
• DIY Book 3D Cover
• OIE: for animations