5 Ways to Compare Yourself Healthily

This year has been a reflective one for me. As the business has slowed down, I chose to slow down too, instead of pushing harder. In that quieter space, I became aware of how easily comparison can chip away at confidence and also how powerful it can be, when used gently, as a source of inspiration when energy or hope runs low.

I asked the women in our Trixtalk community what they felt were the benefits of comparing themselves to others. Their responses were thoughtful and honest, and they reminded me that healthy comparison is really about learning, connection and perspective.

Here are five ways to approach comparison in a way that supports growth rather than undermines it:

1. Use comparison as a mirror, not a measure

Notice what you admire in someone else and ask: what does this show me about what matters to me right now? It is not about being better or worse, just clearer.

2. Stay close to what is possible

Comparisons that motivate tend to be with people whose journeys you can see and relate to. As one Trixtalker said: “If they’re further on in a similar career, it helps to see where my own path might lead.”

3. Find inspiration, not imitation

You can admire someone’s skill or courage without needing to copy them. Ask: what can I learn from the spirit behind what they do?

4. Create spaces where difference is safe

In Trixtalk, women value “hearing different opinions and being able to express your own without criticism.” Growth happens in those environments of psychological safety, where curiosity replaces comparison.

5. Celebrate effort as much as outcome

When people feel their process is seen and valued, comparison becomes collaborative rather than competitive. It becomes a way of seeing possibilities together.

For leaders and teams, this is an invitation to show the paths rather than the hierarchy, and to make space for different ways of being brilliant.