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Harmful Effects of Comparison:

In 1954, social psychologist, Leon Festinger proposed the theory of social comparison, which argues that your own feelings of self-worth are dependent upon how you think you measure up to those around you. You may be constantly evaluating how you stack up to others, in turn creating our self-image. A self-image based on anything other than intrinsic factors is destined to have harmful effects.

For one, making social comparisons can have a devastating impact on your self-esteem, particularly when comparing something you are already insecure about or sensitive to. For example, if you suffer bodily insecurities and follow nothing but fitness accounts on social media, you are setting yourself up to make not only an unhealthy comparison but an unfair one at that.

The majority of social media users show only what they want the world to see. They are less likely to expose their own insecurities and overcompensate by pushing perfection instead. It essentially boils down to a comparison between one’s reality to another’s best attempt to portray perfection. Not only can this influence your self-esteem, but it also distorts your perception of reality.

The stress that results from constantly making social comparisons that deflate your self-esteem and hinder your self-image can harm your physical health as well. Chronic stress can lead to high-blood pressure, heart disease, hypertension, and a weakened immune system. Moreover, when left unchecked, which can easily occur when you are unaware of its cause, chronic stress can lead to psychological problems such as depression and anxiety attacks.

In addition, social comparisons can hold you back from reaching goals and pursuing what matters most. Accomplishments stem from self-confidence, motivation, and clarity—all three of which can be hindered by images of others who you think are already a few steps ahead of you. In short, making social comparisons can be paralyzing and leave you wondering, Why bother?

Let Nikunj say something regarding himself:

My experience with comparison: My father’s friend’s son and I studied together. We both were friends in the school. Both of us gave standard 12 exams and together. When result came and I got a few marks more than my friend. My father congratulated me and my friend, both. But my friend’s father beat his son up and became angry. His father compared him with all our classmates. Because of encouragement from my father I started the business after my 12 and started studying with them. My father gave me a lot of support and encouragement so I can do my study and business together. In the other hand my friend because his father not only gave any support but also always compared with everyone, he started becoming more nervous and was not able to take any interest in anything. Today also he is not taking any job or any responsibility to earn because he is afraid of comparison by his father for the income also. On the other side after a few years, my business started as a routine. My father is not successful in comparison with his father but only giving me encouragement, today I am successful.