The Verywell Mind Podcast Why It’s Harmful to Compare Yourself to Others By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Published on June 25, 2021 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Friday Fix: Episode 84 More About the Podcast Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Friday Fix: Episode 84 It’s tough to know how you’re doing unless you have someone to compare yourself against. After all, do you earn a lot of money? Are you tall? Are you a good basketball player? It all depends on who you’re comparing yourself to. But comparisons can be harmful to your psychological well-being. Perhaps you compare your appearance to others. Or maybe you think everyone around you is happier than you are. It might not take long for you to decide that your life isn’t as good as everyone else’s life or that you aren’t ever going to be as successful as those around you. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to stop comparing yourself to other people. In this Friday Fix episode, I share how to recognize when you’re comparing yourself to others, why it’s bad for your mental health and the five things you can do to put an end to unhelpful comparisons. More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Links and Resources Follow Amy Morin on Instagram Check out Amy’s books on mental strength The Stress of Social Comparisons Why Comparing Feelings Isn’t Helpful The Toxic Effects of Negative Self-Talk By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.