16/09/2026
Comparison can be incredibly useful. The problem isn't comparison itself, but what you do with it.
How do you know what “good” looks like without reference points? If you've never seen a muscular physique, a six-pack, a 200 kg squat or someone running a 20-minute 5K, how do you even know what's possible?
Comparison can provide motivation. Seeing someone ahead of you can create a very useful thought: “If they can do that, maybe I can get closer to it too.”
It gives you something to aim for. Standards don't appear out of thin air. We establish them by observing what other people have achieved.
It can expose complacency. Sometimes seeing someone fitter, stronger or more capable than you highlights that you're capable of more than you're currently doing.
Competition is a powerful human motivator. Sport, strength training, business and pretty much every performance-based endeavour are built around comparing performance against others.
But comparison needs context. You shouldn't look at someone else's physique and assume you should look exactly like them. Genetics, training history, age, lifestyle and starting point all matter.
And yes, “never compare yourself to others” can sometimes be a very convenient form of self-protection. If you never compare yourself to anyone, you never have to confront the possibility that you're falling short of a standard you actually care about.
