In a secondary school in Anambra State, there was a boy named Obinna who constantly compared himself to others. Whenever test results came out, he checked who scored higher. Whenever someone achieved something great, he felt smaller. If a friend bought a new phone, he felt behind. If a classmate spoke confidently, he questioned himself. From the outside, Obinna seemed fine. But inside, he felt trapped in endless comparison. No matter how much progress he made, someone always seemed ahead. One day, his elder sister noticed his frustration and asked what was wrong. After listening, she said something simple but powerful: “If you keep measuring your journey with someone else’s ruler, you may never appreciate your growth.” Those words stayed in his mind. Obinna began changing his focus. Instead of asking, “Who is better than me?” he started asking, “Am I better than yesterday?” He tracked his own progress. He celebrated small wins. He focused on personal growth instead of competition. Slowly, peace replaced pressure. His confidence improved. He became happier and more productive. Obinna learned a truth many people miss: Comparison steals joy. Growth becomes easier when your biggest competition is your previous self. There will always be someone ahead and someone behind. But your journey is unique. Progress matters more than comparison. What area of your life do you need to stop comparing and start appreciating your own growth?
