Feel better by forgetting about yourself

"Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more than the next person. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking, there would be nothing to be proud about." - C.S. Lewis.

The only reason you think your body isn't good enough is because you've seen others with “better” bodies. The only reason you feel like you don’t have enough is because you’ve seen others with more. The only reason your life might seem uninteresting is because you've been given the false impression that everyone else is having more fun.

Without these comparisons, we wouldn’t feel like we’re falling short. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be healthier, live a better life, or find genuine fulfillment. But there is something wrong with constantly overlooking everything you already have.

In the fitness world, this comparison trap hits hardest when it comes to our bodies. It’s so easy to hyperfixate on our perceived flaws and feel like we’ll never look "perfect." I think this almost every day—and then I remind myself of that C.S. Lewis quote.

There is so much peace in realizing that my expectations have been shaped by the wrong things: social media, vanity, and insecurity. When you learn to appreciate your body for everything it does for you—and take care of it without trying to control or obsess over the outcome—you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.

Here are some actionable tips to try today:

• Whatever you do, do it for your health—not for aesthetics. (And often, the aesthetics will follow.)

• Stop thinking so much about yourself and your body. Most people aren’t paying attention. We all think we’re the main character… but we’re really not!

• When you start to obsess over your body or your health, return to the basics—and then shift your energy toward others. I guarantee you’ll feel better when you do.

Most of what’s shared in the health and fitness space is either science-heavy or self-help-focused. But what if the real answer is focusing less on yourself altogether? You don’t need more information—you need a new perspective.