Good morning Judge - 10cc

Judging your progress against other peoples can do far more harm than good. Whilst observing others can often inspire, measuring your success against someone else’s life, abilities, or achievements is rarely a good thing as it can undermine your confidence, motivation, and mental well-being.

Firstly, everyone’s journey is different. People start at different levels, have access to different resources, face unique challenges, and carry unseen baggage. When you compare yourself to someone else, you are usually comparing your inner failings to their visible success. 

You’re not aware of their failures, sacrifices, doubts, or support systems that shaped their progress. Judging yourself without accounting for these hidden factors gives an unrealistic view of your own value.

Secondly, constant comparison erodes your self-esteem. When you focus on what others are doing better, you train your mind to overlook your own strengths, growth, and achievements. Over time, this can create a sense of inadequacy, even when you are making genuine progress. No matter how much you achieve, there will always be someone who appears to be more successful, more talented, or further ahead than you. If your self-worth depends on being ‘better’ than others, you will never feel secure or complete.

Thirdly, comparing yourself to others distracts you from your own goals. Instead of asking, ‘What do I want?’ or ‘What matters to me?’, your attention shifts to meeting external expectations. This can lead you to pursue paths that don’t align with your values, simply because they look impressive or are socially rewarded. True fulfilment comes from progress that feels meaningful to you, not from keeping pace with someone else’s timeline.

Another reason to avoid self-judgment through comparison is that growth is not linear. People develop at different speeds in different areas of life. Someone may excel early and struggle later, whilst another may progress slowly but steadily over time - your current position does not define your potential.

Finally, self-comparison weakens self-compassion. When you judge yourself harshly, you leave little room for learning or mistakes. Yet mistakes are essential for growth. Treating yourself with understanding allows you to improve without shame. 

In the end, the most meaningful comparison is not between you and others, but between who you are today and who you were yesterday. Progress, however small, deserves reward. By letting go of comparison, you give yourself permission to grow at your own pace, define success on your own terms, and appreciate your unique path.

1,232 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 18 MDS - 10 GWR - Never Self-Judged