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Oh my gosh, she’s so pretty. Her family is perfect. Why don’t my pictures look like that? They have way more fun than I do. I wish I could travel all the time like her. Why can’t we have nice things like that?
Literally the list goes on, and on, and on. Put your hand up if this is you on a semi-regular basis? And by a semi-regular basis I mean daily, everyday, all the time. And if it’s not, either you’re lying or you’ve got to teach me your secret. Comparisons are the absolute WORST. But for some reason all of us do it. Most of us do it completely subconsciously, not even realizing it’s actually happening.
For example, I’m a HARD critic on myself when it comes to Instagram. And I just laughed at myself out loud as I wrote that. Instagram? Is that a joke? I know, for a fact there are five hundred more things important than Instagram. But I’m totally serious, I will stalk (creep.) people’s pictures on social media and end up throwing myself a pity party because my pictures aren’t beautiful like theirs or my life is a complete hot mess compared to them. And again, completely serious-it gives me anxiety. I start thinking, oh hell, I don’t have nice things like that, I’m about to have a baby-I should have nice things, I should have my life together. I didn’t even brush my hair today. Look at those pictures, no one is going to want to read my blog that I work SO hard on because my pictures aren’t gorgeous like hers, I’m failing. I’m a failure. I should quit now. And this goes on and on until I get myself in a full blow anxiety attack.
Maybe you’re not as dramatic as me? But hey, I mean even as a child I had stickers on my door that said “Drama Queen” did you expect anything less? But seriously, ladies, and I’m talking to the ladies because I would say it’s probably 98% us–but I’m not an expert on stats, so don’t hold me to that– we have to STOP. And it’s way easier said than done, but just imagine for a second living without comparison? Where we all loved and supported each other? BORING. Maybe a little…but such a HAPPIER life it would be. We wouldn’t have to worry about keeping up with the new of the new, having the perfect home, or taking the perfect pictures. We could do all of that because we found joy in it, happiness in it. Which maybe we do now, but again it wouldn’t be to impress anyone, it would be purely for ourselves.
So here’s my little #dontwastehappy challenge this week, and maybe it’s more so for myself, but I don’t even care because heck I could use this! But the challenge, stop comparing! Stop the jealousy, stop, stop, stop. And if you’re anything like me and need a little reminder (every two minutes..woops). Make your lock screen on your phone a quote or something simple that is going to remind you to enjoy the happiness now and to stop stressing and comparing. Or put a sticky note on your desk at work, wherever you’re going to see it often. For me, I’m on my phone 24/7 so my lock screen is ideal. Let’s knock this comparing game off.
Meaning, Jess–(let me just talk to myself for a minute)–have fun on Instagram and quit worrying. I LOVE Instagram, it’s my chance to connect with all of you fabulous and wonderful people, spread happiness and truly live my dream. There’s absolutely no reason I should be letting negativity into it. And that’s, that. So if you’re going to compete or compare yourself to anyone or anything here’s some food for thought:
Compete with yourself. Compare yourself to yourself, but in a good way of course. Challenge yourself to be a better person everyday, to love, to help and to support.
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