Some weeks I catch myself doing the math on other people's lives. A friend buys a house, another changes careers and lands somewhere exciting, and suddenly my own pace feels embarrassingly slow. I know life isn't a race with a leaderboard, but the feeling still settles in my chest like a small weight.
What helps me most is naming it plainly: "I feel behind right now." Saying it out loud takes away some of its power. Then I try to look at my own last year instead of someone else's highlight reel — and usually I find there was quiet progress I overlooked.
If you've felt this too, what steadies you when the comparison starts? I'd love to hear what you tell yourself on those days.