Comparisons of Hoarding and Cluttering

Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle! There are certainly different levels of cluttering and hoarding, and no matter where we are starting or where we are in our "recovery", it's perfectly OK to make progress at our own pace.

From: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/compare-less/

Compete less. Appreciate more. There may be times when competition is appropriate, but life is not one of them. We have all been thrown together at this exact moment on this exact planet. And the sooner we stop competing against others to “win,” the faster we can start working together to figure it out. The first and most important step in overcoming the habit of competition is to routinely appreciate and compliment the contribution of others.

The tendency to compare ourselves to others is as human as any other emotion. Certainly I’m not alone in my experience. But it is a decision that only steals joy from our lives. And it is a habit with numerous shortcomings:


 * 1) Comparisons are always unfair. We typically compare the worst we know of ourselves to the best we presume about others.
 * 2) Comparisons, by definition, require metrics. But only a fool believes every good thing can be counted (or measured).
 * 3) Comparisons rob us of precious time. We each get 86,400 seconds each day. And using even one to compare yourself or your accomplishments to another is one second too many.
 * 4) You are too unique to compare fairly. Your gifts and talents and successes and contributions and value are entirely unique to you and your purpose in this world. # # They can never be properly compared to anyone else.
 * 5) You have nothing to gain, but much to lose. For example: your pride, your dignity, your drive, and your passion.
 * 6) There is no end to the possible number of comparisons. The habit can never be overcome by attaining success. There will also be something—or someone—else to focus on.
 * 7) Comparison puts focus on the wrong person. You can control one life—yours. But when we constantly compare ourselves to others, we waste precious energy focusing on other peoples’ lives rather than our own.
 * 8) Comparisons often result in resentment. Resentment towards others and towards ourselves.
 * 9) Comparisons deprive us of joy. They add no value, meaning, or fulfillment to our lives. They only distract from it.

Quotes on Comparisons
"Comparison is the thief of joy." ― Theodore Roosevelt

“Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle.” ― Tim Hiller, Strive: Life is Short, Pursue What Matters

"Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what they have been through." ― Sam Cawthorn

"Through comparisons, we create separation and place judgement on the "compare-ee"." ― Anonymous

“Comparison is the death of joy.” ― Mark Twain

“If you pay attention to your ranking and comparison to others, you are competing with others. If you ignore them, you can aim for the stars.” ― Khang Kijarro Nguyen

Links

 * A Helpful Guide To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

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