How to Ditch the Comparison Trap in Your Dance Career and Life
If you're like most people, you have a tendency to compare yourself to others. While this is a normal part of life, it can impact your happiness, progress, and motivation negatively, whether you're preparing for a future audition or striving to become your best self for the team. This blog will cover the ways you can ditch the comparison trap, and how you can use it as a tool to help you grow.
Focus on your blessings.
When you start comparing yourself to others, you’re not comparing your actual skills, but your perceived skills, which are usually entirely different things. Instead of comparing your abilities directly to those of others, you should count your blessings. You already have things that you can be thankful for, such as your family, a good set of friends, healthy food, new connections, and the fact that you've made the team. Also, try appreciating the things that you are good at — for example, dancing, your ability to make others laugh, and your creative side!
Image credit: miamiheatdancers (Instagram)
Read more: Gratitude in Your Pro Cheer Career: How to Cultivate It
Compete with yourself instead of others.
We live in a society that glorifies the person who works the hardest, who is the most successful, and who can outshine their competition. It's easy to get caught up in the glamour of thinking that you're not enough and never will be as great as someone you admire. But the truth is, we all have the power to be successful and to be the absolute best versions of ourselves. The first step to getting there is to stop comparing yourself to others and start competing with yourself.
Here's a challenge: Think about the progress you've made in one year in different areas of your life — your fitness, food choices, dance skills, etc. More importantly, identify the lessons you've learned along the way.
Read more: 7 Habits of Aspiring Pro Cheerleaders Who Reach Their Goals
Avoid social media comparison.
Some people have the tendency to compare themselves to others on social media. For example, comparing your body to your friends' bodies or your job to their jobs. This habit can be so unhealthy that it makes you believe that everyone else is doing much better than you. It can make you feel miserable.
Start putting some boundaries to protect your mental and emotional well-being. Don't feel obligated to spend time on social media platforms, comment, and engage with people's posts. Unfollow accounts and pages that make you feel bad about yourself. Turn off your phone when you're exercising, practicing your routine, or having dinner with your loved ones.
Read more: Pro Cheer Positivity: How to Express Gratitude Every Day
Final Thoughts
I love this quote by John Lee Dumas, the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire (an award-winning podcast): “We live in a world where everyone is sharing one perfect second of their imperfect day, and we’re interpreting that perfect second as a life of perfection. However, the reality is much different. They are living a life of quiet desperation like the rest of us”.
Avoid getting too wrapped up in the idea of competing with others. If you stop comparing, you will be happier, more productive, energized, and naturally become better in every way. It's important to remember that everyone has their own path.
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