Comparison is Quietly Ruining Our Relationship with Health (And How We’re Taking It Back)
Let’s be honest: the health and wellness space can feel a bit overwhelming at times.
Between aesthetic transformation posts, strict morning routines, and endless rules about what wellness should look like, it’s surprisingly easy to walk away feeling like you’re doing it all wrong.
Somehow, a space meant to make us feel good can leave us feeling a subtle sense of shame for just existing as we are.
A few days ago, I was at the gym before heading into a night shift. Scanning the room, I realised I was the only woman there, and also the only "plus-sized" person working out at the time.
side note: An Australian size 14–16 is literally the average body size in this country, yet the label can still carry so much pressure to prove you aren’t some stereotype because you look a certain way.
I was going about my session when I overheard a couple of guys talking near the weights area.
They were both in great shape, but listen to what they were saying to each other:
"Man, I wish I had your arms." "Yeah, but I wish I had your strength to lift like that."
It hit me right then and there.
Here were two people who looked like the picture-perfect definition of "fitness," looking at each other and wishing they had something else.
It was such a grounding moment.
It reminded me that underneath the fitness gear, the goals, and the body shapes, we are all just human. The constant comparison game isn't reserved for one body type, age, or gender.
It’s a silent habit so many of us carry, and frankly, it’s one of the biggest things draining our spirit and taking the joy out of looking after ourselves.
Health isn't about fitting a specific aesthetic or measuring up to the person on the next machine. It’s about showing up for yourself, honoring what your body can do, and feeling good in your own skin.
So, let’s make a collective shift.
The 2-Week "Bright Belle" Challenge
For the next fortnight, we are calling a truce on the inner critic and the comparison game.
The Challenge:
Every morning when you wake up, and every night before you sleep, say three genuinely kind things about yourself out loud or in the mirror or simply write them down and read them back to yourself 3 over morning and night.
I want you to think of them as your daily mantras to reset your mindset.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are the ones I’ve been using over the past two weeks:
I am brave.
I am kind.
I am smart.
I am worthy.
I belong.
They don't have to be complicated they just have to be real and meaningful to you.
Try it for two weeks and see how it shifts your energy, your confidence, and the way you walk into every room (gyms included!).
Over to you:
What are your three kind words for today?
Drop them in the comments below or tag us in your stories let’s fill our feeds with something genuine today. ✨