“Comparison is the thief of joy” - Theodore Roosevelt
In our world of non-stop social media, there’s a HIGH probability that you’ll see posts or hear about other people’s successes and think things like, “my life is so boring”, “why doesn’t that happen for me?”, “I wish I were there”, “I’ll never be that lucky” and on and on. Have you heard the saying “compare and despair”? That’s exactly what happens. When we compare ourselves to others, we diminish our own experience. It’s common to have these thoughts, however they ALWAYS produce feelings of lack, resentment, frustration, irritation or another type of negative feeling. Why is this important to know? Your THOUGHTS create your FEELINGS. Your FEELINGS drive your ACTIONS (or inaction). Your ACTIONS produce your results. It’s difficult to cultivate appreciation for your own life from negative emotions. When you hear success stories or see social media posts, you have a CHOICE to make. You can allow the negative thoughts to creep in and leave you feeling bad about yourself OR you can choose to see their successes in a more useful way. “I am happy for them.” “I am right where I need to be on my journey.” “Their success inspires me.” “If they can do it, I can too.” Feelings produced by these thoughts are motivation, excitement, peace, hope & love. It is FAR more productive and FUN to function from positive thoughts and feelings. Be aware of the comparison trap. If you notice your thoughts producing negative feelings, do yourself a favor and redirect them. Choose to think useful thoughts on purpose and experience the difference your mindset will create!
