The Quiet Confidence of Being
How Recognising Your True Nature Frees You from the Need for Comparison, Approval and Admiration
A participant in a recent webinar asked a question that I believe many of you will recognise – how to reconcile the spiritual path with the persistent pull of comparison, self-doubt and the need for approval. This essay explores why these struggles arise, and how the quiet confidence of being, once recognised, dissolves the need to measure ourselves against others.
They said:
“I often compare my success, health, wealth and status with others, which leaves me feeling inadequate and self-critical. Thoughts like ‘I’m not good enough’, ‘They’re better than me’ or ‘What will others think?’ frequently arise.
This pulls me into a sense of doership and pressure. Even after years of spiritual exploration and glimpses of insight, I still feel caught. Intellectually I understand my true nature, but emotionally I remain trapped in comparison and the stress it brings. How can I live in the world while staying true to the spiritual path?”
The Trap of Comparison
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