Living a more intentional life has become a big part of my core values. Aside from becoming more financially whole, I’ve been on a mission to seek more joy. I will say, I wasn’t always like this. With anything, there are areas of my life that have room for improvement. However, one thing I am truly proud to share is that I’ve overcome the struggle of comparing myself to others. Theodore Roosevelt once said “Comparison is the thief of joy” and I couldn’t agree more.
The truth is, we are all a beautiful work in progress. It’s time for you to start running your own race. We have to stop paying attention to what someone else has on Instagram. Not focusing on your gifts and talents is a disservice to you and everyone around you. This blog post is going to touch on the main reasons why I believe you should avoid comparison.
TIMEWASTER
How much of your time have you spent scrolling the internet wishing you had something you didn’t? Next, you check the time only to see it’s flown by and you’ve yet to tackle your day. Firstly, I’d recommend setting limits on your phone for certain apps. I had to do this for a time, and I’ll say it helps. Though, you have to take the limits seriously. Try not to dismiss them when the limit locks you out of the app. I’m sure there is a project you’ve been putting off, some work you need to get done, or someone you need to reconnect with. Cutting back on the time you spend on your phone, unfollowing/unsubscribing to people and places that make you feel inadequate is a great place to start.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN HAPPINESS
With the pandemic and stay-at-home orders, I know it can be really hard to find that spark of joy. But only you can create something even if it is from nothing. Wake up and start your day with some morning affirmations. Instead of reaching for your phone to see what others are up to; connect with you and check-in with God. Whatever we water grows. Someone else’s grass might seem green, but you have no idea how long it took them to get green grass or what they had to do for it!
CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS
The small things are what you should really be prioritizing. Instead of comparing yourself to others, start by celebrating what you do have and really enjoy them. This makes for better use of your time. We tend to look over the wins we have every day because they seem trivial. But if you worked out when you said you were going to work out guess what, that’s a win. If you spent time working on your craft for 30 minutes guess what! That is a win. You are already winning. The more time you spend celebrating these wins the less time you have to compare your life to others.
Living a more intentional life starts with taking a look within. We first have to be happy with what is already inside of us. Remember, you are a beautiful work in progress.
