Questioner: Hello sir, my name is Pradeep. I am a third year student from IIT, Hyderabad. So, my question is — In spite of being told that we shouldn't compare ourselves with others, it's told, that everyone is different and they have their own journey, but still, we tend to compare. I have seen my friends, my other colleagues, so people tend to compare themselves with others even with the people who don't even know them personally. So, my question is, how to train our mind not to compare ourselves with others? Hope my question is clear?
Acharya Prashant: Yeah, the question is clear. See, comparing yourself with others might be a secondary problem. Rather, the more fundamental thing is do you really know where you stand and what you must be? That comparison is primal. And if to facilitate that comparison you need to compare yourself with others, there is no harm in comparing yourself to others.
But before any comparison with an external entity, first of all there has to be an internal evaluation. Where do I stand? Where do I stand and am I happy with myself? So, it's a comparison of yourself versus yourself. Let's say, you are sick, and the others are almost dying, does that really satisfy you? Does that heal your sickness? Comparatively you are better, but does that help you? It won't, right?
So, comparisons might serve a purpose but they are rather peripheral. The first thing is to ask yourself — Am I healthy? How do I compare my current state to my potential state of health? That inner comparison must come first. And in the process of that inner comparison sometimes it helps to see a healthy person outside of you. That healthy person reminds you of what you can be, what your own potential is. To that extent comparing yourself with others is not such a big problem.
