The Art of Comparing
I don't know what it is about the human condition that drives us to constantly compare things: tall, short, big, small, fast, slow, enough, not enough.
We tend to not only compare objects, we compare people and we also compare ourselves to other people.
I recently started studying comparisons among Figure Competitors, since I want to understand what makes a successful Figure Model.
I believe comparing to be a result of our natural attempt to establish our own present identities and figuring out what needs to get done to move up the established hierarchies.
However, most comparisons start with good intent or no intent whatsoever. Likely and most often, the results of comparing ourselves to others are catastrophic!
Let us take this to the most obvious scenario: the GYM.
All of a sudden you walk into the gym, like you have been doing for the past 4 months and today feels different. Yes today is a brand new day, a day filled with possibilities. You walk through the gym's hall entrance with your chest out and your head held high. Today you walk in as a brand new woman that has dropped 5 lbs!
As you go through your workout, you have a definite feeling of being stronger and most certainly lighter. As you get close to the end of your workout you have reached a certain level of annoyance due to the burning pain in your muscles, but you feel accomplished. Check, for another great workout!
As you turn around you see a woman about your age whose body is a perfect depiction of strength and beauty. Her body shines and looks as if it were made of solid rock. It is as if a Roman Goddess statue has dared to walk down of her pedestal to visit the mortals. As she walks, not a single element of her complexion jingles with her steps, and you wonder how is this possible?
"Good for her!" you think, but as you catch your reflection in the opposite mirror and notice the jingly-dignly of your bottoms, you can't help those feelings of jealousy and self defeat.
This past weekend, I went through this experience as an out of the body experience. Let me explain: I was a witness to someone that I love, doing this to themselves. For once I was able to analyze it as a spectator, not as a character in the play, and yet live it close and real.
For this person, it was not a matter of jingly-dinglys, it was a matter of size and muscle volume. Rightfully so, this person has been working for over 6 years to achieve a beautiful body.
I have seen this person, change, grow and thrive for this past 6 years. I see this person getting closer and closer to achieving his/her goal. But last weekend I painfully experienced how this person stumbled and fell, hard, when he/she exercised the art of comparing him/herself to other people.
It is inevitable, our eyes and minds will catch us unawares and we will end up comparing ourselves to another. But in exercising our self control as often as we can, I suggest we start practicing the art of comparing ourselves to oneself.
Myself, summer 2010
We tend to not only compare objects, we compare people and we also compare ourselves to other people.
I recently started studying comparisons among Figure Competitors, since I want to understand what makes a successful Figure Model.
Front pose comparison for judging.
I believe comparing to be a result of our natural attempt to establish our own present identities and figuring out what needs to get done to move up the established hierarchies.
However, most comparisons start with good intent or no intent whatsoever. Likely and most often, the results of comparing ourselves to others are catastrophic!
Let us take this to the most obvious scenario: the GYM.
All of a sudden you walk into the gym, like you have been doing for the past 4 months and today feels different. Yes today is a brand new day, a day filled with possibilities. You walk through the gym's hall entrance with your chest out and your head held high. Today you walk in as a brand new woman that has dropped 5 lbs!
As you go through your workout, you have a definite feeling of being stronger and most certainly lighter. As you get close to the end of your workout you have reached a certain level of annoyance due to the burning pain in your muscles, but you feel accomplished. Check, for another great workout!
As you turn around you see a woman about your age whose body is a perfect depiction of strength and beauty. Her body shines and looks as if it were made of solid rock. It is as if a Roman Goddess statue has dared to walk down of her pedestal to visit the mortals. As she walks, not a single element of her complexion jingles with her steps, and you wonder how is this possible?
"Good for her!" you think, but as you catch your reflection in the opposite mirror and notice the jingly-dignly of your bottoms, you can't help those feelings of jealousy and self defeat.
This past weekend, I went through this experience as an out of the body experience. Let me explain: I was a witness to someone that I love, doing this to themselves. For once I was able to analyze it as a spectator, not as a character in the play, and yet live it close and real.
For this person, it was not a matter of jingly-dinglys, it was a matter of size and muscle volume. Rightfully so, this person has been working for over 6 years to achieve a beautiful body.
I have seen this person, change, grow and thrive for this past 6 years. I see this person getting closer and closer to achieving his/her goal. But last weekend I painfully experienced how this person stumbled and fell, hard, when he/she exercised the art of comparing him/herself to other people.
It is inevitable, our eyes and minds will catch us unawares and we will end up comparing ourselves to another. But in exercising our self control as often as we can, I suggest we start practicing the art of comparing ourselves to oneself.
Myself, summer 2010
Myself, October 2010
Special thanks to Anita Kus-Roberts for her coaching through my darkest times, who made this transformation possible for me.
Special thanks to Anita Kus-Roberts for her coaching through my darkest times, who made this transformation possible for me.
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