In yoga class, it’s easy to get caught up in what other people are doing on their mats.  When you let your eyes stray, you might see that the person next to you is doing a terrific handstand or triangle pose and feel a twinge of envy. On the flip side, you might see someone struggling with a pose that comes easily to you and feel a sense of pride.

But the beauty of yoga is that it’s a space to get away from competition, that it recognizes that we all come to our practice with different abilities, strengths, and flexibility. In fact, the time of day or day of the week may determine what our bodies are capable of doing, where we feel more tightness versus openness, and our level of energy.

One of my previous yoga teachers always started class encouraging us to “check our egos at the door.” This mantra often pops up when I’m inclined to compare myself to others. Ultimately, the end goal is not to do a series of poses flawlessly (or to look like your neighbor), but to listen to your body and to find balance and centering at your own pace. After practicing yoga for a number of years, I still haven’t done a handstand. My inner voice cautions me that I’m not quite ready (matched with a discomfort of being inverted). Thankfully, the preparation for that pose is supposedly just as important.

In our careers, as in yoga, there’s a tendency to let our ambition—and our own egos—guide our decisions according to other people’s success. It’s one thing to look to others for inspiration, but we have to be careful not to measure our worth based on others’ accomplishments.

If it becomes difficult to stay focused on your own progress and to be present with where you are in your life (the great yoga mat), do what yoga teachers recommend during a balancing pose: pick a spot on the wall and stare at it. Your eyes will soon adjust to tune everyone else out.