You compare yourself to others and envy them because you fail to understand just how amazing and wonderful you are. If you did understand this, you would never compare and envy, for you would know that you are incomparable and that envying is pointless.

You are incomparable because you are unique—along with every other person. Thus, that which is unique need not be compared to something else unique. For instance, a rose and a dandelion need not be compared, for a rose is a rose and a dandelion is a dandelion. Both are beautiful, captivating, and special in their own way, just like you. Your unique differences are what set you apart and make you extraordinary. Therefore, embrace your uniqueness—your differences—and quit comparing yourself to others.

As for envying, you must realize that it is truly pointless because you have no clue what those whom you envy are going through. Sure, they may look great on the outside, having the body type you desire, the “better” looks, the nicer hair, the more desirable height, etc. However, they could be going through absolute turmoil within. They could be fighting battles you would want no part in. No one, no matter how good things appear to be on the outside, goes through life without some form of struggle. So instead of focusing on others, focus on you; focus on what makes you incomparable and focus on overcoming your personal battles. As you continually do that, you will have no time to compare and envy.

I used to constantly compare myself and envy others. In particular, I had a friend whom I constantly compared myself to and envied. I wanted to be like him and I wanted to trade places with him, for his life appeared to be so much better than my own. However, as I got to know him more, I discovered his struggles and no longer wished for his life. At that point, I strongly desired to stop comparing and envying. So I began taking the time to focus on what made me incomparable and to focus on my own personal battles. Once I started doing such, things drastically changed. I began to see how amazing my uniqueness made me, and the more I appreciated my uniqueness, the less I compared myself to others. I understood that I was no one else, and no one else was I. My constant envying also fell away because I became too engulfed in overcoming my personal battles to even consider envying another person. I thought to myself, my personal battles are difficult, but they are my battles. That means that overcoming them will uniquely shape me and give me a unique story to tell down the road!