Let me guess—you catch a glimpse of someone else’s “perfect” life on Instagram and suddenly feel like you’re doing everything wrong. Been there. This episode dives into why we compare, how it messes with our mental health, and the two-part strategy to stop letting it control your life.

Let’s be honest: comparison is basically a national sport at this point. Except there are no shiny medals, no trophies, and the only prize is feeling like trash because your neighbor’s cousin’s best friend’s Instagram just reminded you their abs have abs. Fun, right?

I’ve been there—high school, binge eating years, even adulthood. I had “Comparison is the thief of joy” slapped on my phone wallpaper like a motivational tattoo. Did it stop me from comparing myself to everyone from my sister-in-law to JoJo from The Bachelorette? Of course not. (Side note: JoJo is gorgeous, but she also has professional hair, makeup, and lighting—three things most of us don’t have at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday.)

The Good Old Days (a.k.a. Pre-Social Media)

Comparison used to be a once-in-a-while thing. Like, someone pulled up to school with a shiny new car and suddenly you’re convinced your family’s clunker was proof you were a failure. You sulked, you moved on, and life went back to normal.

Welcome to the Scroll Spiral

Now? Thanks to social media, comparison is on-demand, 24/7, like Netflix for self-loathing. One scroll: someone’s in Bali. Another scroll: perfect couple photos. Another scroll: abs so defined you wonder if Photoshop comes standard on iPhones now.

Our brains were not built for this constant parade of “you’re not good enough.” It’s like trying to binge an entire season of comparison in one sitting. Spoiler: it ends badly.

The Unfollow Workout (Highly Effective, Zero Sweat)

What do you do when the scroll spiral hits?

• Unfollow or mute like it’s your new cardio. If their posts make you feel like garbage—even if it’s your college roommate or your sister-in-law—out of sight, out of mind.
  • True story: a friend unfollowed her “fitspo” idol, forgot she even existed within two weeks, and realized she hadn’t trashed her own body once during that time. Mic drop.

Flip the Script: It’s Not Them, It’s You

Here’s the twist: it’s not their body, career, or vacation that’s the problem—it’s how you’re feeling about yourself.

Your brain has filters designed to prove you right. If you believe you’re “not enough,” your brain will serve up evidence all day long like it’s a waiter at Cheesecake Factory. Change the filter by asking: What am I really feeling right now?

Appreciation > Perfection

You don’t need to suddenly adore every inch of yourself. But can you appreciate that your body lets you hug your kids, dance in the kitchen, or walk up a flight of stairs without passing out? Boom. You’re already shifting the energy.

Small Actions, Big Shifts

Feel gross about your body? Instead of spiraling, cook yourself a meal or go for a 20-minute walk. These aren’t miracle cures, but they change the channel in your brain.

The Summer Effect

Summer makes this worse. More skin, more swimsuits, more chances to feel exposed. But remember: nobody’s scrolling through your life’s highlight reel. They’re too busy worrying about their own cellulite.

The Big Truth Bomb

If you keep trying to find self-worth by measuring yourself against other people, you’re always going to lose. Because the measuring stick was never about them—it’s about how you feel about you.

So mute the noise, turn the lens inward, and remind yourself: abs are overrated, Bali sunsets look better with cocktails, and life’s too short to spend it competing with strangers on the internet.

Final Thoughts

And listen—I get it. Comparison is sticky. But if you start unfollowing, muting, and flipping the script, you’ll notice things change. Out of sight, out of mind works better than any motivational quote wallpaper ever will.

P.S. Next time you catch yourself mid-comparison, just ask: What do I appreciate about me right now? Trust me—it changes everything.