Sometimes I have the thought – it’s human nature – you know it I’m sure – comparing myself to others.
It’s when you spend valuable time caught up in the person next to you, wondering why you don’t have what they have. Or it appears they have.
So you go into “beat yourself up mode” and start to dissect everything you do, or don’t do, trying to figure out what you’ve done wrong or whatever limiting self-belief runs the show for you. For some, it’s more than one.
I came across Roosevelt’s quote this week which nailed it for me.
“Comparison is the thief of joy”
It’s a clever metaphor. Playing the comparison game is a reversal of how it should be.
Spending time in comparison mode actually means we’re not content with our own identity. We’re in a state of fear and anxiety which affects everything we do, be it at work or home, robbing ourselves of the satisfaction and joy in what we have achieved. We are less productive, expending precious energy on things that aren’t important or are not true.
We make assumptions based on fear not reality. We blame, deny and sabotage ourselves not the person we are comparing ourselves to.
Living like this is exhausting.
So why do we do it? My view is that we do this because at some level, we’re not content with who we are. We are afraid to unleash the “real us”, fearful that we’re not good enough! Our nature is to fill the void through drama and misconceptions.
Comparison is a time waster, stifling our potential. Who wants that?
Franchelle Ofsoske-Wyber said this week “You have to find and live your own divine dream – you cannot find or live someone else’s”
So true. It’s time to stop robbing yourself of your own journey through comparison and instead, start celebrating your own achievements.
SHIFT the comparison – it doesn’t serve you any more!
Love to hear your thoughts.
It’s time to SHIFT YOU!
Rebecca