Comparison is the Thief of Joy

A

Principle

Idea

Belief

Philosophy.

    Movement to Freedom

        Freedom to Movement

In summary:

Movement to Freedom to Movement.

Today I was walking down a very busy street in the CBD chatting to a colleague when he started complaining about how much salary other people in his organisation make. He's a very smart guy, and a very hard worker. But I don't think he's happy a lot of the time.

I spoke the words: 'Comparison is the Thief of Joy'.

Now I didn't come up with that proverb. The first time I heard it was actually during a NBA game. The commentator Jeff Van Gundy dropped it during the broadcast. It sent his partner Mark Jackson, who I believe is a deeply religious man, into a positive spin. That stuck with me. 

I have used that proverb myself to move me out of, and often prevent me from entering cycles of jealousy and negativity.

When I mentioned it to my colleague, I saw something happen in his eyes. I learnt recently from Andrew Huberman that the pupil of the eye is actually part of the brain. It is the only part of the brain that sits outside of the skull. Seeing a reaction in the eyes, like the one I saw, brought me right into the present moment. I the watched my colleagues shoulders moved, as if a slight weight had disappeared.

It was very interesting though what happened next. It was as if there was an internal battle happening within him. It's like he was grappling with an addiction, a habit of jealousy, which maybe had become a comfortable, albeit harmful, friend. But here was an antidote. Did he want to actually be joyful?

A few moments later he began comparing some of the work he is doing with others. How they receive more praise and support. Again I spoke the words - 'Comparison is the thief of joy'. His eyes did something again, his shoulders slumped. I believe it was a sort of detox.

I ended up repeating the proverb maybe twice more. When I left him he seemed happy, the most happy and light I had ever seen him. He was moving in the freedom direction.