I've always been drawn to art. There's something about standing before a painting that created centuries ago that still speaks to something in us today. On a recent gallery visit, I overheard a conversation that changed how I think about the lives we build.
A teenager was walking through the gallery with their mother. At one point, the mother asked which painting was the best.
The teenager thought for a moment and said: "It's impossible to choose which one is the best. Each painting has its own style. Each work evokes a different response, and each response is memorable."
This simple observation prompted me to consider how we navigate our own lives.
The Problem: Constant Comparison
Most people engage in regular, unfavorable self-comparison. These comparisons typically take predictable forms:
- Not measuring up to others in specific areas
- Declining in abilities compared to your past self
- Falling short of how you "should be"
- Not having achieved what you expected by this life stage
The consequence is intense emotion—anxiety, stress, shame, depression. The body's defensive response often leads to avoidance or overcompensation, creating reactive behaviours disconnected from what we actually value.
We wouldn't try to rank Monet against Picasso against Da Vinci against Rembrandt. Yet we constantly rank ourselves against others and find ourselves wanting.
A Different Frame
What if, instead of constantly measuring and comparing, we reimagined life as a distinctive work of art?
Great artists cannot be ranked hierarchically. Each has their own style, their own vision, their own contribution. The question isn't "who is better" but "what is being expressed."
The same could apply to individual lives.
Your life is a unique work of art hanging in the most remarkable gallery—the gallery of human history.
Questions Worth Asking
Rather than "How do I compare to others?" try asking:
- Is my life lived with fine, careful brushstrokes or impressionistic sweeps?
- Does it reflect my unique style and vision?
- What is being expressed through how I live?
- Am I building something I can take pride in?
These questions don't require comparison. They require reflection on what you're creating and whether it aligns with what matters to you.
The Invitation
Abandon comparative thinking. Make brave, artistic decisions aligned with your personal vision. Build your life intentionally as a unique expression.
You're not competing with anyone else's painting. You're creating your own. And the only meaningful question is whether it reflects something true about who you want to be.
What kind of artwork are you creating with your life?