Being the Best You
Comparison is the thief of joy and the root of insecurity. I've met so many incredible people who are miserable because they constantly compare themselves to others, focusing on what they lack instead of what they have. These are often the same people who scroll through social media, believing that what they see is either fake or unattainable. While luck can play a role in success, it’s crucial to recognize that working for the wrong reasons leads to repeated failure. The most successful people I’ve encountered share one common mindset: ‘fuck what others think.’ They don’t waste time worrying about how others perceive their lives; instead, they are focused on their next project while others are busy judging their previous move.
It’s astonishing how consumed we’ve become by social media. If our ancestors could see how much time we spend on our phones, doing nothing of value, they would be disappointed. Jordan Peterson articulates it best with his quote, ‘Compare yourself to who you were yesterday.’ When you look in the mirror instead of across the table, you’re engaging in a true battle—a war of attrition.
This concept of ‘being the best you’ resonates deeply with my own journey. For a long time, I found myself trapped in a cycle of comparison. I would measure my progress against others, feeling inadequate whenever I fell short of someone else's accomplishments. It was draining, and it held me back from becoming who I truly wanted to be.
There came a point where I realized that this way of thinking was leading me nowhere. I was working hard, but my efforts felt empty because they were driven by the desire to outdo others rather than to improve myself. It was then that I began to shift my focus inward, I had to choose my enemy wisely. I started asking myself, ‘Am I better today than I was yesterday?’ That became my new standard for progress and satisfaction.
Once I embraced this mindset, I began to feel more in tune with myself. The pressure to be ‘the best’ in comparison to others faded away, and I started to find joy in the process of self-improvement. I’m not striving to be the best, nor do I care to be; as long as I’m continually chasing the best version of myself, that’s what matters. I hope I never reach a ‘peak,’ because the true value lies in the journey itself—as cliche as it sounds.
This shift in perspective transformed not only my approach to life but also my sense of fulfillment. I stopped viewing others as benchmarks and started seeing them as fellow travelers on their own paths. The only competition that matters now is with who I was yesterday. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory.
As I continue this journey, I’ve found that the rewards are far greater than any external validation. I’m more at peace, more resilient, and more confident in my ability to navigate life’s challenges. I’m not perfect, nor do I strive to be, but I’m always moving forward, always growing. And that, to me, is gold.
Above is a photo I took while on a hike where I came to this realization. One of the most important days in my life.
