Stop comparing, start growing

In this episode, host Rishi Nagar explores the psychology behind why we naturally compare ourselves to others and how comparison can either motivate us to grow or hold us back. Drawing on Leon Festinger's Social Comparison Theory, the discussion looks at how comparing ourselves with successful athletes, colleagues, students, or even friends can inspire positive change when we focus on learning rather than feeling inferior. Nagar also examines the darker side of constant comparison, especially through social media, where we often measure our everyday lives against carefully curated highlights of others. The episode offers practical ways to make comparison healthier, including focusing on personal progress, learning from others without judging ourselves, limiting unhealthy social media comparisons, and celebrating small improvements. The key message is simple: Don't let someone else's chapter twenty make you doubt your chapter two.