June 1, 2026- Comparing, complaining, criticizing

Cancers of the mind: Comparing. Complaining. Criticizing.

~Jay Shetty

Our actions will always move in the direction of our thoughts. We cannot control what thoughts come to us, but we can control which we decide to hold onto. When we decide which thoughts we will stick with, we also decide the direction of our subsequent actions.

Comparison is useless exercise. We can compare ourselves to our perception of others, either landing on all the ways we are superior or all the ways we are inferior to them. Does that do us any good? Don’t we want to determine our success in relation to our dreams, rather than by comparing our lives to what we are willing and able to observe in others?

Complaint is a useless exercise. There are things inside and outside of our control. If we have the power to change something, our time and energy can be spent more wisely by changing it, rather than by complaining about it. If something is outside our control, the negative energy of our complaints is not going to improve anything, so we should focus on our own actions.

Criticism is a useless exercise. While reflection is important, when we intentionally seek criticism, we focus often on our problems, rather than solutions. We see weakness and not strength.

Comparing, complaining, and criticizing will eat our minds from the inside out. Let’s keep our eye on the prize. Let’s let our minds focus on our dreams.