According to the evaluative information ecology model of social-comparison, people are more similar on their positive traits and tend to differ on their negative traits. This means that comparisons based on differences will naturally produce negative evaluations, whereas those based on similarities will produce positive evaluations. In this research we apply and extend this model to theorize about the outcomes of temporal self-comparisons. We predicted that one’s similarities across time would be evaluated positively, whereas one’s differences would be evaluated more negatively. However, because positive attributes are reinforced over time, we expected an asymmetry to emerge such that attributes unique to the past self (past differences) would be most negative. Evidence from a simulation study, 7 experiments (total \textit{N} = 1844), and an integrative data analysis, support the notion that temporal self-appraisals follow naturally from comparisons in a known information ecology. Several tests of the prevailing motivated-self-perception account did not bear fruit. We discuss the implications of these findings for temporal self-appraisal theory as well as other aspects of self and identity.