There’s something comparison does really well.

It steals joy.

It steals momentum.

And if we let it — it steals growth.

I learned this lesson on a track.

I Used to Run a 6:15 Minute Mile

In high school, I ran track.

I weighed a little less than I do now.

I trained every day.

I was a teenager with a completely different life.

My fastest mile was 6:15.

Is my mile anywhere near that now?

No.

Is that okay?

Yes.

Because I am not that version of me anymore.

And that doesn’t make me worse. It makes me different.

Stop Competing With Your Past

Sometimes we don’t just compare ourselves to other people.

We compare ourselves to who we used to be.

Younger.

Lighter.

Less responsibility.

More time.

But life changes.

Bodies change.

Priorities change.

Seasons change.

If I never run a 6:15 mile again, that does not mean I’m a terrible runner.

It means I’m in a different chapter.

And different chapters require different standards.

Consistency Over Comparison

This is something I’ve heard Trent Shelton remind people of in his own way:

Stop measuring your progress against someone else’s timeline.

Someone will always be ahead.

That doesn’t disqualify you.

Feelings of inadequacy aren’t proof.

They’re just feelings.

Comparison measures distance.

Consistency measures commitment.

And consistency beats talent over time.

I may not be the fastest anymore.

But I’m still running.

And that counts.

—

Not a Morning Mom

Imperfect growth. One mile at a time.