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In this episode of The Purposeful Shift, Emma explores one of the most common human experiences: comparison.

Building on recent conversations around courage, identity and trusting your own path, Emma reflects on how easily we measure ourselves against other people's lives, achievements and progress - and the impact this can have on our confidence, creativity and sense of direction.

Drawing on her own experience of launching the first Purposeful Shift retreat, Emma shares how quickly excitement can turn into self-doubt when we begin comparing ourselves to people who appear further ahead. She explores why comparison is such a natural human behaviour, the role it plays during periods of uncertainty and change, and why it often causes us to lose sight of how far we've already come.

The episode also considers the difference between comparison that inspires us and comparison that diminishes us, drawing on ideas from psychologist Leon Festinger, Theodore Roosevelt's famous quote that "comparison is the thief of joy", and insights from coach and author Martha Beck.

Rather than encouraging listeners to stop comparing themselves altogether, Emma invites a more curious approach. What might comparison be trying to tell us? And how can we use it to better understand our own hopes, values and aspirations?

The episode concludes with a simple reflection exercise to help listeners explore their own comparison triggers and reconnect with what matters most to them.

Take a sheet of paper and create three columns:

Who or what am I comparing myself to?

How does this comparison make me feel?

What is this comparison teaching me about what I want, value or need?

Take some time to sit with your answers and notice what emerges.

Thank you for listening to The Purposeful Shift.

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