“Don’t compare your life to others. There’s no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s time.”
A few years ago, I stepped away from nearly all social media. I couldn’t take the constant highlight reels—everyone seemingly trying to outshine one another, even though I knew not every life was sunshine and roses. If I’m being honest, I was just as guilty. I only shared the good stuff, the picture-perfect moments. It’s just not socially acceptable to post about the hard times, and there’s often an underlying sense of shame in admitting when things aren’t going well—especially when everyone else’s lives look flawless.
I briefly attempted to rejoin Facebook just before the 2024 presidential election, but the hostility—friends turning on friends—was overwhelming. It wasn’t the space for me.
LinkedIn, on the other hand, is essentially social media in a suit. My company relies on it for recruiting, showcasing our culture, highlighting community involvement, and sharing project work. It’s a tool—but lately, I’ve found myself scrolling more than usual, even after hours. And that’s where the trap lies.
Because as I read about individuals and companies highlighting their achievements, I start feeling… less than. Like I haven’t accomplished “enough.” Like I should be doing more, achieving more, being more. It’s exhausting. And I’ve even considered walking away from LinkedIn altogether—why put myself through that?
But the real question isn’t whether I should leave. The real question is: Why am I comparing myself to anyone in the first place?
Comparison is a thief. It steals contentment and replaces it with doubt. It convinces us that our worth is measured by accolades, promotions, or curated glimpses of success. But the reality is, no LinkedIn update or Instagram story can capture the full depth of a person’s journey—the struggles, the setbacks, the quiet victories that don’t fit neatly into a post.
So instead of stepping away, maybe the answer is to shift my perspective. To see these success stories not as a measure of my own shortcomings, but as reminders that we’re all on different paths. That my journey—unfiltered and imperfect—is just as valid, just as valuable.
Because the only person I should be measuring myself against is the person I was yesterday.
Forget everyone else—you are who matters! Yes, God wants us to serve selflessly, but how well can we do that if we don’t attempt to be the best version of ourselves? And there is no one else that can define that, except our past self. Be you… and strive to be better than you were yesterday.