Some will tell you comparison robs the soul of its individuality.
Some will tell you comparison feeds the ego with envy and perpetuates scarcity.
Some will tell you comparison undermines your appreciation of the present.
These people aren’t wrong; however, this isn’t the full story. Comparison is a tool and tools are neither good nor bad. They are inherently neutral. It is how they are wielded that determines their qualifying status. Comparison can be used to create and shift perspective. Without comparison, we can lack the context with which to make attributions.
“Compared to what” is a lens through which to zoom out and gain an understanding of relativity. And it is our brain’s ability to think relationally that fuels creativity, innovation, and discernment. “Compared to what” is a path of inquiry that seeks to gain context before passing judgment. Comparison can be used to understand or it can be used to definitively cause offense. Perspective is the path to understanding and acceptance. I accept that sometimes comparison helps me to get there. It’s just a tool, after all.
