Isn’t it hard when it seems like they have it all figured out?
Them. All those people doing it better than me or you. The ones who know how to properly be an adult, do relationships, decorate their house, run a meeting, or put a kazillion dollars in their bank account. Those folks. How do they do that?
When I’m overwhelmed or exhausted there seem to be armies of them running around. It’s like all the cool people who have life figured out come out of the woodwork on that particular day. Damn.
Sometimes it borders on ridiculous! My measurement stick will light up at dumb things like updated home décor (in real life I give no cares about that kind of thing), or that I’m not hauling up or zipping down a very large mountain like everyone around me (in real life I have no inclination to do that, nor do I know how), and many other triggers that make no sense when I am well rested, have moved my body and my heart/brain are fully functioning.
As we move through our days may we remember that everyone is carrying a burden we don’t know about. Let us cut ourselves some slack when we slide back into comparison, while we recall that what looks perfect on the outside tends to be an illusion.
When we see evidence of someone having it all together allow us to recognize it’s a mirror of what may be possible for us if we choose it. Recall the ebb and flow that happens for them just like it does for us. Grant them, the others, compassion to mend what they are carrying in their hearts - because when one of us heals and learns to live mindfully it affects the whole.
Honeybun, how about if you and I vow to do better at the comparison game because carrying it inside is an energy robber. Let’s start to accept that we are good at some stuff and not so good at other things and that’s okay.
Thank you for being here. Your support of my writing means the world to me.
xoxo Donna
P.S. Do you have a specific thing that makes you feel you don’t measure up to those other people? (I know that’s a big share but we are all in the same boat).
Speaking of being in the moment and feeling pure joy for someone else’s accomplishment you may want to check out this heartwarming story from my friend Kristi. It gave me all the feels and restored my faith in humanity!
Subscribers. I am so thrilled to have hit 300 subscribers, but then I look at others on Notes who talk about getting 500 in XX months, or whatever the random numbers are. While I am genuinely happy for them, there is a tinge of feeling like I've been somehow personally rejected by nameless, faceless people who haven't discovered I'm here or don't find value in what I write. Which I know is ridiculous. Particularly because prior to seeing any of those posts I am ecstatic and happy that I've gone from 0 to over 300 people, with a good many who are really engaged. But as you say, comparison is an ugly game and it definitely steals our energy. It's also really embarrassing to admit! ;)
Perfect. Everyone has a story. And everone is interesting. The fact that we are all different means that comparing ourselves to others is an apples and oranges thing.