One primary harm a person can to do to himself is to compare his life with that of another. This has two dangerous effects. Thus, it can either produce pride or produce low self-esteem. Pride comes when one sees oneself as better than another. Low self-esteem comes when one sees another as better than oneself. 

The danger of pride is that, it births distain for others, and makes one feel less of the need to keep building oneself since the feeling of being better than other has found its root in the person. Invariably, the danger of low self-esteem is that, it fuels self pity. It discourages one from working and building oneself since the thought of being less than others and never measuring up to the level of others have been solidified.

The danger of pride and low self-esteem cannot be overemphasized. Pride makes you see more of yourself and less of others. Low self-esteem makes you see more of others and less of yourself. These two states makes a person blind, either blind from seeing oneself, or blind from seeing others. And it's difficult for a blind man to go far in life.

Pride and low self esteem are very dangerous, they have the tendency of wrecking a person's life without prior notice. They are parasitic, they never add to you, they only destroy you. When they successfully find their way into a person's mindset, that mindset becomes a stronghold of limitation. Through it, depression, bitterness, anger, unhealthy social relationships, etc, lies. Sadly, the root of it all sprouts from "unhealthy Comparison."

It is pertinent to know and acknowledge the fact that we are created differently. We have different blue prints, we have different story lines, written by the supreme Script Writer, who is God Almighty. If we had had same story lines, life would be very boring. God knew this, He knew that there is beauty in difference, hence, the reason he made us different. Amazingly, each person is special and created specially if he or she focuses on his or her story line.

You need not compare your life with another's. You are you, and you have no other you than you. Only you can be you. You are original and not a photocopy. Enough of the depression and self pity. Enough of the unhealthy Comparison and competitive jealousy. Enough of the pride and disdain for others. You are not better than anyone; so be humble. Also, no one is better you; value, appreciate and be confident in yourself.

Everyone is beautiful and important. Everyone is special. The only thing is to understand what you are made of; seek to know the purpose you are made for and work in it. You have beautiful abilities yet to be realized. You are amazingly complex with special abilities. You just need to discover them and work on them. Allow the lives of others encourage you to better and not the otherwise. Likewise, appreciate and see value in the lives of others and not disdain them.

Don't forget, no one has life completely figured out. Everyone is still in the process. Hence, never compare your life with that of another. You know not what that person is going through. Value everyone, respect everyone, and value yourself too.

 By: Chioma Obiajuru