Compare Leads To Despair
There’s a quote that says: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Do you struggle with comparing yourself? Look in your life where you are struggling with it.
Why do think we compare ourselves to others? The negative result of comparison is it makes us feel small and insignificant. How is comparison showing up in your life? How does it make you feel?
We all fall short in life – accepting that we are imperfect humans walking the earth with an opportunity to learn and grow can change the lens in which we see everything. The truth of the matter is every person falls short, however, this is the beauty of grace – grace is enough; and this is something that God is always willing to extend to us and also something that we can and should show to ourselves. I’m a big believer that God gives us weaknesses to make us strong. It sounds a bit like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?!!! When I step back and really look at it, I can see the truth in it. I can see that we are dependent upon our Creator and this requires a good degree of humility. When we are able to humble ourselves instead of getting stuck in ego, it really opens up space for beautiful growth.
“Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man… It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition is gone, pride is gone.”
― Mere Christianity
Imagine if we were good at everything – everything would be easy and nothing would be a challenge. In my previous blog post I talked about how it’s in the challenges that character is forged. Character is a byproduct of trusting in God, living your life in integrity, effort – put in that hard work, perseverance – keep at it and be consistent, and exercise belief in yourself. If we follow this pattern, we ditch the comparison and we can celebrate our strengths and weaknesses and we won’t be intimated that someone might be better at something than we are. When we can kick comparison to the curb, our confidence increases and we can celebrate the beauty of both our strengths and our weaknesses.
I like to remind myself on the daily that I am a daughter of God. We are all His children. We have His spiritual DNA running through us, so this means that our potential is infinite and it’s through Him that we can achieve anything. It requires us to be humble by accepting our weakness, it requires us to ask Him for help, it requires us to work hard, it requires us to trust in Him and choose to believe in ourselves.
The downside and danger of comparison is spiritual digression, negative self talk, lack of confidence in self, anxiety and depression and probably a myriad of other issues that can result in other problems in your life, On the flip side, how does believing in yourself bless your life?!!! Believing in yourself is simply choosing to have thoughts that are positive. Confidence and happiness increase, and you are able to step into the man or woman that God created you to be. That sounds pretty good to me!
I just want to end with these powerful words from a spiritual leader on mine, Jeffrey R. Holland, he said:
“I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other.”
When we can move from competing with others to cooperation, when we extend our love to the love for others, from comparison to connection, then we will find peace and acceptance in our imperfections.
xoxo,
Tammy
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