Temporal Comparison is an answer to 2023 being "YOUR" year.

Temporal Comparison in simple terms means comparing your past self with your present one. It gives a map of how far you have come from your past self. This is quite a healthy way of comparison as it has an individualized perspective to it. True growth happens when you are your own epicenter and do things for your self-esteem. When you compare temporally, you see defects in a way that makes you want to change for the better. In the process, you make promises to yourself. Consistently striving for these promises will establish self-trust and hence improve your sense of self-worth and self-esteem. While it is very easy to compare yourself with your peers and society, it becomes negative and unhelpful in the long run. Therefore, a healthy approach to comparing is a Temporal comparison.

Research and statistics state that "social comparisons" are more common and frequent along with bringing more joy to people. This is where it goes wrong. In social psychology, we have learned that whenever people talk about themselves they consider and explain it with respect to extrinsic or external elements of the surroundings but when it comes to others they pay attention to that person's internal aspects. This is quite accurate because an instinctual habit of a majority of the people in society is blaming their surroundings for their setbacks. But this is quite the opposite when it comes to describing and judging others. While our papillaes' (taste senses) are ready to spill out bitter words for an overt behavior of the person. Here, we fail to consider the possible environmental forces for the other person's way of behavior, and rather put it as a result of their internal nature or personality.

However, the flip side to temporal comparisons is that they might bring negative feelings or feelings of anxiousness when the past is too overwhelming to compare and no changes have been made in the present self. Then, engaging in a social comparison of an individual who is worse off brings a sense of relief but, not joy. In such cases, studies say that neither social nor temporal comparison is helpful. Hence, the individual needs to compare himself with a cognitively constructed frail and weak standard. This makes them feel that they are doing well.

All kept aside most research, although very sparse, is of the view that temporal comparison is the answer for a long-term commitment to self-esteem and satisfaction. Now, how can you involve in temporal comparison is the question.

• Music is one way to do that. Research states that nostalgic music triggered positive or downward comparisons of how their lives improved.

• Make a conscious effort to compare yourself with your past mistakes and difficulties.

• Writing a past and present self list gives you a realistic picture of your qualities. This ensures additionally that you compare yourself with your own self.

• If your past vs present is on the same level then apart from indulging in making a weak hypothetical person inside your mind you can also create an upward(positive) future temporal self. For eg. In the future, I feel my self-confidence will only improve.

• Take feedback from others. I am sure that others would be able to point out the pros and cons list from your past vs present self if you are finding it difficult to narrow it down. Having said that, this has all probability of spiraling down the opposite way so choose the person wisely.

• Accepting the stage you are in. Change and positive comparisons only work when you first take credit for the person you are in life at that particular stage. Then, plan and move to your ideal version.

• Sublime your envy towards others into tasks that will help you reach your desired goal. Shift your focus and start seeing the parts instead of the whole picture.

• Improve your self-confidence and esteem by standing by the virtues and promises made to yourself.

• Start thinking of failures as an event or actions and not an identity. This is the growth mindset. Take failures as learnings. A fixed mindset would force you to whine about how unlucky you are in life and that nothing comes easy to you. Change this.