'Comparison vs. Inspiration — The Path to Authentic Growth'
In this deep dive, Gui and I, along with Paloma Alves, explore the thin, often-crossed line between negative comparison and powerful inspiration in the dance world. We discuss how focusing on what we lack can sabotage our personal and professional journeys.
The Trap of Comparison
We reveal how comparison frequently leads to a negative internal dialogue:
Unfair Self-Judgment: We often measure ourselves against goals we aren't actively training for (e.g., comparing social dancing technique to a split).
Pressure to Conform: Professionals and students alike feel pressured to learn every new move or participate in events like Jack and Jill just to remain visible or feel accepted.
Moving to Authentic Inspiration
The goal is to shift the act of comparing from instantaneous judgment to observation and alignment:
Observation, Not Judgment: We must move past automatically judging differences and focus on objective observation: "That person has that skill; I don't."
Alignment is Key: Ask: "Does this skill align with my personal goals and essence?" If it doesn't, we let it go. If it does, we seek to learn the process that took that person to that level, not just copy the result.
The Power of Being Yourself: We stress the importance of not losing the pleasure of the dancer you are to the dancer you want to become. Your greatest strength comes from nourishing the things that genuinely resonate with you.
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→ Are you mistaking comparison for inspiration?
→ What is one skill you see in others that truly aligns with your goals?
Share your thoughts and join the conversation!
