Compare Yourself to Who You Were

It’s easy to compare yourself to others. We’re constantly surrounded by people and hearing about new experiences, milestones, and accomplishments. But that’s not what today’s blog is about.

Today is about comparing yourself to your past self.

Do you see an improvement in your life? Did you stay true to your goals? Taking the time to reflect and ask yourself these questions can change the way you see your own progress.

We all have our own version of success and our own expectations for ourselves. Measuring yourself against that version, rather than against someone else’s, is what actually moves you forward.

The tricky part is that this kind of comparison needs a reference point. So pick something concrete. Look at what you wrote down a year ago, the goals you set in January, an old photo, or a project you finished and forgot about. Put it next to where you are now, and the difference becomes something you can see instead of something you have to guess at.

And sometimes the honest answer is that not much changed. That’s worth knowing, too. A year when you held steady through something hard is still a year that taught you something. And a year when you drifted is information you can use.

The point of looking back isn’t to give yourself a grade. It’s to notice the direction you’re headed while there’s still time to adjust it.

Adam

P.S. — When you work out or go for a run, you’re not just doing it for who you are today. You’re doing it for your future self.