The Comparison Game
- Vera Jo Bustos
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
Are you competing—or constantly comparing?
In elite sports, comparison is everywhere.
Stats. Playing time. Rankings.Transfer trackers. NIL deals. Draft projections.
And behind it all—an algorithm reminding you, 24/7, of who’s doing more, getting more, being more.
You scroll to check in...And leave questioning your worth.
It’s no longer just about who you're playing against.
It’s about who you're being compared to—even when you're alone in your room.
And that’s the trap:
When left unchecked and untrained, comparison doesn’t fuel you.
It drains you.
You start measuring your value by someone else’s highlight reel.
You start doubting your path because it doesn’t look like theirs.
You start chasing their success instead of owning your growth.
But here’s the shift most don’t make:
Comparison isn’t the enemy.
Untrained comparison is.
Because comparison can actually build confidence, when you use it as a mirror, not a measuring stick.
It can expose gaps that deserve your attention.
It can challenge your standards in a healthy way.
It can motivate increased effort, better reps, and new levels of focus.
The key?
You have to compare from alignment, not insecurity.
Are you watching them to learn—or to tear yourself down?
Are you using their success as evidence of what's possible—or proof that you’re not enough?Are you chasing their path—or sharpening your own?
The athletes who last don’t chase trends—they chase alignment.
They don’t try to become someone else—they double down on who they already are.
When coaches prioritize development over comparison, trust builds.
When athletes compete with themselves, not against the scroll, confidence grows.
When focus shifts from attention to intention, performance becomes more fluid.
Comparison will always be there.
Your job is to train it—to filter it.
To recognize when it’s fueling your growth and when it’s bleeding your belief.
Because you can’t outperform your potential…
if you’re too busy trying to be someone else.
Your game. Your race. Your lane.
Stay in it. Own it. Run it your way.
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Want to learn more about how to develop internal confidence?
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