Don’t Compare Your First Chapter to Someone Else’s 10th Chapter

We all start from different places, and we all progress at our own pace. When you’re just beginning, it can be tempting—and all too easy—to look around and compare yourself to people who seem far ahead. But the truth is, comparing your “first chapter” to someone else’s “10th chapter” will only set you back. Each person’s story has a different beginning, middle, and end, and that’s what makes them all so beautifully unique.

Celebrate Your Progress, Big or Small

One of the hardest parts of any journey is recognising how far you’ve come. When you’re so focused on the future and where you want to be, it can feel like you’re moving in slow motion. But growth, in reality, is often a slow and gradual process. And while it may feel that your efforts aren’t making a difference, they are. Every small win, every little step forward, is progress worth celebrating.

Whether you’ve mastered a skill you once struggled with, completed a project you were afraid to start, or even just committed to trying again tomorrow—take a moment to acknowledge it. Small wins may not seem significant at first glance, but they build momentum. They’re the fuel that keeps us going when things get tough, the proof that, yes, you are moving forward. Celebrating these achievements, no matter how minor they might seem, is essential to keeping that momentum alive.

The Surface vs. The Story

When we see others succeeding, it’s easy to focus on where they are now, forgetting the long, winding road that got them there. We see the finished product, not the behind-the-scenes struggles, the failed attempts, or the sacrifices they’ve made. It’s natural to notice someone’s success without knowing the story that brought them there, but remember, that story is there even if we can’t see it.

When I teach sports to kids, I make sure to emphasise one key message: the only person they should compare themselves to is their past self. For a child learning to skip or run for the first time, it can feel discouraging if they look around and see others who have been practicing for years. But each child’s journey is theirs alone. A child may be taking their first steps, while someone else may have taken a thousand; that doesn’t diminish the importance or the effort of those first few steps. Just like that, your efforts are valuable and meaningful, regardless of where others are on their path.

Focus on Your Own Story

Remember, your story is unique, and it’s unfolding exactly as it’s meant to. There will be chapters of hardship and chapters of triumph, moments of struggle, and times when you soar. Other people’s stories are there to inspire you, to show you what’s possible—but they’re not there to make you feel inadequate or behind. In fact, your journey may inspire someone else in ways you’ll never realise.

Stay focused on your own progress, your own path, and let others’ stories encourage you rather than distract you. Just as every book unfolds page by page, so does your life. Don’t skip ahead or compare; simply continue writing, celebrating each new page as it comes.

So, the next time you catch yourself comparing your progress to someone else’s, take a step back and remind yourself: “I am exactly where I need to be, and I am writing my own story at my own pace.”

You do you ❤️

Jenny x

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