“The reason why we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” –Steven Furtick
In this day and age, it’s easy to get wrapped up in other people’s lives. The highlights are spread all over social media, complete with filters, angles and selfies. On the surface, it looks like everyone has fantastic and amazing lives. They travel to amazing places, eat incredible food and have not a care in the world. For many of us, it makes us feel like our lives pale in comparison.
The problem with that is that we are comparing our everyday lives full of problems and reality with other people’s best moments. We don’t even know if it’s real and/or staged! Comparing our lives with others leaves us feeling ungrateful, depressed and even unmotivated. “If my life isn’t as good as theirs, then why even try?”
Each of us is different with different likes, values and life focus. If our lives were all the same, you still wouldn’t be happy because what gives someone else joy very well may not make you feel the same. You may want the body of one person and the finances of another, and the friends or followers of someone else.
THAT IS NOT REALITY!
You are an amazing person with gifts that no one else has. Cultivating those gifts and talents and finding your purpose in life will make you so much happier than trying to become someone else or comparing another person’s situation to where you are at. Just imagine! From this day forward, you can choose to go, do or be anything you want. You must be willing to put in the time and effort.
Need some tips to guide your way? Try these:
1. Limit your social media. It takes time away from your real goals and makes the rest of the world seem better than it really is.
2. Take time to improve yourself. It’s never too late to learn and grow. Take a new class, get a personal trainer or plan a trip to that place you wanted to go. Even just taking on a new project can make life exciting again.
3. Start a gratitude journal. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we truly are blessed. So many people in the world would love what you have!
4. Volunteer for a good cause. Serving and helping other people makes us feel good, plus it invites the universe to pay it forward.
5. Use positive affirmations. Learn to overcome that negative voice in your head by telling yourself you already are who you want to become. (Ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecy?)
Your job is to only compare you to yourself. Become better day by day by making good choices and changing small habits that lead to big changes. You have the power; you just have to use it.
