Episode 5

The Comparison Trap

The Comparison Trap

Have you ever scrolled through social media and immediately felt like you were somehow behind in your own life? Like everyone else has it together and you are still figuring things out? In this episode Marilyn gets honest about one of the quietest ways we steal joy from ourselves. Comparison.

And here is the thing. Social media only shows us what people want us to see. The highlights. The wins. The best moments. Sometimes with a little exaggeration mixed in. And when we compare our real unfiltered everyday life to someone else's carefully curated highlight reel we are setting ourselves up to always feel like we are falling short. That is not a fair comparison. And today we are talking about why.

This episode is not about putting your phone down forever. It is about learning to run your own race and stop measuring your journey against everyone else's.

In this episode:

  • Why social media comparison is never a fair fight and what we are actually comparing ourselves to
  • What the real life comparison trap looks like with the people right around us
  • The important difference between being inspired by someone and being consumed by comparison to them
  • How to use the bubble method when feelings of inadequacy start to take over
  • Six practical ways to break free from the comparison trap and come back to your own lane

This week's takeaway:

The next time we catch ourselves in the comparison trap ask one honest question. Am I running my race or am I watching someone else run theirs? Because we cannot do both at the same time. And our race is the only one that actually matters.

Come join the conversation:

This episode hits close to home for a lot of us. Come talk about it in our free Facebook community, Put it in a Bubble Private Bubble. Find us at MarilynBarker.com.

Connect with Marilyn:

www.MarilynBarker.com

Hashtags:

#PutItInABubble #MentalHealth #TheComparisonTrap #RunYourOwnRace #YouAreEnough #MindsetShift #MentalWellness #SocialMediaAndMentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #StopComparing #GrowthMindset #EmotionalHealth #YouAreNotBehind #BeYourself #BlowItAway

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Put it in a bubble
Put it in a bubble
Life, Mindset & Everything In Between

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Marilyn Barker

Marilyn Barker

Marilyn Barker is an author, speaker, business consultant, motivational coach, and the creator of Put It in a Bubble™. Through her books, podcast, workshops, and coaching, she helps people create space, shift their perspective, process difficult moments, and take intentional steps forward.
Put It in a Bubble™ is built around a simple idea: you do not have to carry everything at once. Marilyn encourages listeners to pause, decide what deserves their energy, take action where needed, and release what they no longer need to hold onto.
Her approach is practical, encouraging, and grounded in real life. The goal is not to ignore hard things or force positivity, but to handle challenges with more awareness, stronger self-talk, greater resilience, and a clearer sense of what comes next.
Marilyn is the founder of Barker Business Services LLC, which serves as the umbrella for her consulting, speaking, educational resources, books, and the Put It in a Bubble™ brand.

Support Put it in a bubble

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
Support Put it in a bubble
A
We haven’t had any Tips yet :( Maybe you could be the first!