How Comparison Kills Progess
Have you ever seen someone lifting heavy in the gym with good form and thought, “Why should I even bother? I’ll never be able to lift like that,” well you’re not alone! But it’s important to recognise that comparison is one of the quickest ways to drain your motivation and stall your results.
The truth is, comparison is in our nature, it does serve an important purpose: it helps us evaluate choices, guide our decisions, set priorities and make sense of our surroundings. But it can also be toxic if left unchecked.
Here’s how to keep it from sabotaging your progress:
1. STOP COMPARING YOUR DAY 1 TO SOMEONE'S DAY 100
That person cleaning their body-weight? They’ve likely been training for years, working on their technique, building strength, and staying consistent. Comparing your day 1 to their day 100 is not helpful. Use others as proof of possibility. They’ve shown what can happen when you stay consistent, let that inspire you. Track your small wins. Your day 10 should already look better than your Day 1. Those small wins compound over time.
2. SET GOALS THAT ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU
It’s tempting to adopt someone else’s goals - hitting a certain weight on the bar, or a particular “look.” But unless those goals line up with your lifestyle, values, and body type, they’ll leave you feeling defeated. Your progress will be faster and more fulfilling when you focus on your benchmarks.
3. MEASURE WHAT MATTERS
Instead of comparing your body or lifts to someone else’s, track things you can control:
Your training consistency
How many reps or sets you’ve added
Your energy levels
Improvements in mobility or flexibility
How your clothes fit
When you measure progress this way, you’ll always have something to celebrate.
4. TURN ENVY INTO INSPIRATION
Inspiration is the antithesis of envy. Inspiration fuels an abundant mindset - it encourages us to think 'If they can do it, so can I.' Rather than feeling threatened by others' success, we feel excited and motivated by it. We allow others to show us what is possible. Ask questions. Learn from their training. Shift the thought to an inspired one.
5. PRACTICE GYM GRATITUDE
Every time you leave a session, name one thing you’re proud of- big or small. Maybe you showed up even when you didn’t feel like it, maybe you lifted a little heavier, or maybe you finally nailed that form cue that you've been drilling for weeks. Gratitude shifts your focus from what you don’t have yet to what you are building.
FINAL WORDS:
There's only one person you should compare yourself to, and that's yourself. Compare who you are today to who you were yesterday and to who you want to become tomorrow. This kind of comparison isn't about tearing yourself down - it's about celebrating your progress, staying grounded in your own journey and embracing your growth.