Who is guilty of comparing themselves with others (other than me)?
She is so much further in her career.
She’s got a successful, up-and-running business.
She’s earning this much.
She’s raising this many children and seems so content.
She has bags of confidence.
It’s easy to fall into this cycle, especially when life feels overwhelming.
The Trap of Career Comparison
We often compare ourselves to others’ career progress. We believe we should be where they are, given they are at a similar stage in life. We envy their achievements and beat ourselves up for not having come as far as they have.
The Weight of Comparison
At the start of the year, January felt like a drag. The mornings were dark, the days were cold, and getting back into routine after the holidays was challenging. Work, household duties, business decisions, and waiting for a house project to begin – all of it weighed on me. When the renovations started, my daily responsibilities became even more scattered. I felt the pressure to push forward in my business, so I signed up for a course to make progress. But in the back of my mind, questions kept surfacing:
Who am I trying to prove something to?
Why can’t I just let go and focus on the priorities right in front of me?
I’ve started to accept that I can’t do it all. Juggling parenthood, a business, a house renovation, household duties and life admin – all at once – is just not sustainable!
I am learning that my journey is different to another person’s journey. Life isn’t linear. It’s messy, curvy, and full of ups and downs. No two experiences are the same.
Comparison makes us blind to our own growth and drains our energy. It is very irrational and doesn’t consider each and everyone’s individual journey.
So, instead of looking at what we lack, what if we took stock of what we have?
A Simple Reflection Exercise
This morning, I spent a few minutes reviewing the first three months of 2025. I looked at my milestones, the moments that shaped my decisions, and the lessons I learned.
Just five or ten minutes of reflection can shift your perspective. When you acknowledge and appreciate your journey, you gain clarity and self-compassion.
Shifting this energy to gratitude is a game changer. Instead of fuelling the inner critic and draining our energy with comparison, let’s redirect that energy toward gratitude.
Your Turn to Take Stock
I invite you to take five minutes and reflect on:
- What are three things you’re proud of from the past three months?
- What milestones have shaped your journey this year so far?
- How will you celebrate your progress?
Career change coaching 