Avoiding Comparison
Updated: Feb 4, 2021
Hi friends! I hope you're having a great day. I wanted to talk about something that's been on my mind lately - comparison. There is a quote that I've seen before - "comparison is the thief of all joy," and I agree wholeheartedly.
It can be so easy to look at someone's else's life and wish that you had the things that they had. With social media being such a large part of our lives, how can we not compare ourselves to other people? Comparison has creeped into so many parts of our lives- and it not only disillusions us, but it can destroy us.
Something that I find myself comparing a lot is my body. As much as I try not to, I can't help but think of other people who are skinnier than me, thinner than me, better looking than me. But then I have to step back and remember that I was made in God's image. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and when I think of that, it helps me so much.
Body image is such a tricky thing, and social media can make it so hard to have a positive outlook about yourself. Something I suggest is to be more critical of what you allow yourself to view on social networks. If you see something that triggers you or makes you feel bad about your body, consider unfollowing that person or company.
Another thing that is easy to compare is possessions. Your neighbor has a nicer car, your co-worker has nicer clothes. They may have more or better possessions than you - but you don't know what's going on in their lives. Contentment is something that is so important - being satisfied where you are, with what you have, with what God has provided for you. “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:5.
That being said, there are some steps that I take that can help you when you start to compare yourself, that I think could help you if you struggle with this, too!
1. Count your blessings - it seems so simple, but it's something that is so powerful. Try writing down or thinking of 5-10 things that you're thankful for when you feel like comparing yourself.
2. Focus on your strengths - if you're comparing your weaknesses to someone else's strengths, flip the script! Think about YOUR strengths and what you're good at.
3. Be okay with imperfection - this is something that I've struggled with a lot. I'm such a perfectionist that sometimes I can't handle not being perfect. When that happens, I remember that NO ONE is perfect, and I need to take a deep breath and get past it.
4. Follow your heart and make your dreams happen - this seems like an obvious “must-do,” because everyone deserves to achieve their dreams, but so many people put their “wants” on the backburner. If you want to travel, eat the cake, or be adventurous, do it. Life doesn’t slow down and you should always aim for happiness, even if that means getting outside of your comfort zone. For example, moving across the state or even across the world can seem scary, but what if it helped you reach your dreams? What if it brought you more happiness than you could ever imagine? That’s why I urge everyone to follow their dreams! Get help along the way, though, so that you don’t have to do it on your own. Utilize your family and friends and when you can, hire help to make a potentially scary process a little bit easier.
If you are moving in the future, you could use Fresh Start - The Moving Crew. They do residential moving in Worcester County, commercial moving, furniture moving, and more. Their movers originate from Central New England (such as Northeast CT, Worcester County, Springfield, Providence, etc.) and travel to wherever you need them to. They have fantastic reviews, are top rated, and really care about their clients.
Your dreams deserve to be achieved, so keep in mind that it’s not a bad thing when you do push yourself out of your comfort zone!
Comparison really IS the thief of all joy - and I hope that you stop comparing yourself to others. You are beautiful and amazing just the way that you are. If comparison is also something that you struggle with, let me know how you get through it in the comments below!
xoxo,
Carina