Growth Instigators Hotline

#390 Let go of comparison.

• Aaron Havens • Season 4 • Episode 390

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Comparison not only steals our joy but also our momentum, distracting us from our unique path and preventing us from creating our authentic contribution to the world. We explore how to break free from the comparison trap by celebrating our own milestones, anchoring to our values, and turning envy into inquiry.

• Comparison masquerades as motivation but actually poisons our progress and satisfaction
• We unfairly measure our behind-the-scenes against others' highlight reels
• Running a marathon with your head turned sideways is like living in comparison—you'll stumble and lose your way
• Celebrate your milestones instead of dismissing progress that doesn't look like someone else's
• Anchor to your values, not others' victories
• Turn envy into inquiry by asking what you can learn rather than why it's not happening for you
• While you're busy comparing, you're not creating
• The world doesn't need a cheaper version of somebody else—it needs the authentic you

Today's growth challenge: Identify one area where you've been caught in comparison, then write down one unique strength or accomplishment that reminds you why your lane matters.


Speaker 0:

Have you ever been to Costco or Sam's Club on a Saturday? You walk in for toothpaste and suddenly you're comparing yourself to the guy with the 90-inch TV in his cart. Yeah, do I need that? Am I even living, right? Yeah, comparison sneaks in fast. Welcome to message 390 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach.

Speaker 0:

Fulfillment Friday how to let go of comparison? Here's the one big idea that I want to land today. Comparison is the thief of both joy and progress. You don't win your race by staring at someone else's race. The trap of comparison is subtle. It masquerades as motivation If they can do it, I should too but underneath it it's poison. It's not good because comparison makes you measure your behind the scenes against someone else's highlight reels that they want to show the world.

Speaker 0:

Let me give you a quick picture. Imagine running a marathon with your head turning sideways the whole time. You'd stumble, you'd lose speed, even fall flat. That's what comparison does. It distracts you from your pace, your progress and your purpose. So here's the shift. Celebrate your milestones. Don't dismiss progress because it doesn't look like someone else's. A step forward is a win Period. You win Period. Anchor to your values, not their victories, what matters most to you. Lead and live from that. And last thought is turn envy into inquiry. Instead of asking, why not me Ask what can I learn from them and how can I apply it in my way?

Speaker 0:

Theodore Roosevelt said it best comparison is the thief of joy, but I'd add, it's also the thief of momentum, because while you're busy comparing, you're not creating. And here's the truth. The world doesn't need a cheaper version of somebody else. It needs the best, most authentic version of you. So here's your growth challenge for this Friday Today. Identify one area where you've been caught in comparison. Then write it down, one unique strength or accomplishment that reminds you why your lane matters. Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Visit growthinstigatorscom and let me know how I can help you or your team grow. Here's the question for today when in your life have you been distracted by comparison and what could you build if you focused fully on your own lane? And, as always, keep instigating growth in all you do?