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The Plague Of Comparison Needs To End

You were not created to be an exact copy of any other person on this Earth.

Halee Jean

Mar 13, 2017

Saint Mary's College - Indiana

Lauren Lindmark

Social media is an attractive concept, but it’s also rather detrimental at times. We spend hours every week scrolling through images of perfectly positioned lives in confined square spaces and we can’t help but hold ourselves to this invisible standard that has become to be expected of all young women.

She’s prettier than me…

She’s skinnier than me…

Her teeth are whiter than mine…

She looks so much happier than me…

And you know what? I hate to burst your bubble, but you’re probably right. The reality is that there will always be someone who is prettier than you. There will always be someone who has a more toned body, teeth that are whiter than your's, and honestly, I’m sure there are people out there who are happier than you are right now too. Such is life.

But, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. There are over 7 billion people in this world and we were not created to be an exact copy of any other person on this Earth. How beautiful is that?

You cannot compare yourself to something or someone that is not relative to who you are. A pretty girl does not diminish your own beauty. A skinny figure on your feed does not make you fat. You are not the same and that does not make you less.

You yourself are unique! You are beautiful and wonderful, and you were intentionally designed to be exactly the way you are. You are the head and not the tail. If we could train our brains to be appreciative of the beauty around us, rather than critical and constantly comparing, we could become more empowered and confident in who we already are.

And trust me, you’re already wonderful. You’re beautiful, talented, smart, funny, and amazing, among a myriad of other things. Your smile lights up a room and there are people who love you, in case you haven't been reminded of that yet today. No one can take that away from you. Don’t diminish the wonderful things that make you who you are by being too caught up appreciating these things about someone else.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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The Plague Of Comparison Needs To End

You were not created to be an exact copy of any other person on this Earth.

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All names should be "unisex names."

1. Communicating via email can be awkward.

2. Appointments usually accompany weird looks.

3. Introducing yourself to someone is never without a hitch.

4. You’ve probably thought about changing your name.

5. You’re often asked why you have the name you do.

6. You get excited when you meet someone of your gender with your name.

7. You feel awkward when you meet someone of the opposite gender with your name.

8. You’ve had someone say to you, “I knew a [your name], but they were [your opposite gender].”

9. You’ve heard a bad joke/pick-up line or two about your name before.

10. People are surprised when they see you.

11. You’re extra sensitive to other unique or unisex names.

12. You’ve fought with your parents about it.

13. All things considered, you’re happy your name makes you unique.

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

I get it... I'm pale.

1. At least I can't lose you in a crowd!

2. Oh my goodness your skin is like glow-in-the-dark.

3. Can't you just get fake tan?

4. Do you tan or just burn?

5. Your kids are going to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost!

6. *holds arm against your arm* Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. *holds pale arm against another pale arm* Aw, at least you're darker than her!

8. I laid out by the pool almost every day over break!

9. I haven't used sunscreen since I was, like, five.

10. *adjusts selfie lighting to their face* Oops, where'd you go??

11. *after working out* Your face is SO red!

12. *wears white* Look! You're all one color!

13. You need to get some sun.

14. Aren't you excited for summer?

The struggle bus is real.

1. Child prodigies:

2. Hearing other musicians in the practice room next door and accepting that you will never be as talented as them:

3. That anxiety that takes over before every performance:

4. Taking a million 0 credit classes:

5. When there's a paper due the next day, but you have to attend yet another concert in order to pass a 0 credit class:

6. When your friends try to encourage you after a performance, even though you are criticizing everything in your mind:

7. Knowing that there's always that one professor during juries:

8. The oh-so-attractive band/choir uniforms:

9. Realizing that a college campus is maybe not the best atmosphere to finish your latest composition:

10. Hearing "Oh, you sing opera? I LOVE Phantom of the Opera!" for the hundredth time:

11. When people think finals week is a breeze for you.

12. When you're drowning in the stress that comes with 18+ credits (and not to mention all those 0 credit classes) and people ask you how you are:

13. When it all comes down to it, though, you know that at the end of the day, music is your passion:

Because you need it in your life.

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6. holds arm against your arm Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. holds pale arm against another pale arm Aw, at least you're darker than her!

10. adjusts selfie lighting to their face Oops, where'd you go??

11. after working out Your face is SO red!

12. wears white Look! You're all one color!