Why Comparison Drains the Joy from Your Career

At some point most of us glance sideways and wonder, “Should I be further on by now?” A colleague’s promotion, a shiny LinkedIn update or a friend’s highlight reel can trigger it.

Comparison is human—but it’s also misleading. We rarely compare like with like.

What you’re not seeing

We react to the visible surface: job titles, pay bands, applause.
What’s hidden? Doubt. Long hours. Missed birthdays. Office politics. The parts of themselves they’ve muted to fit in. The values they’ve negotiated away.

Before you admire the outcome, ask whether you’d actually want the trade-offs.

Better for whom?

We often assume that “more senior, more visible, more money” equals better. That’s not a neutral yardstick—it’s someone else’s.

Start with you

Feeling “behind” usually means you’re using the wrong benchmark. Careers with the most meaning aren’t always the ones that make the most noise.

Get clear on what matters to you—values, needs, strengths and preferences. That clarity lets you make choices on your terms, not someone else’s timeline.

Next time the comparison spiral starts, try this:
Would I truly want their life—or just their post about it?