Resist the temptation to compare

Resist the Temptation to Compare

source: Thrive!

 

 

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." - Jeremiah 1:5

Do you sometimes compare yourself, your accomplishments, or your possessions to others? It can be tempting and often destructive. Our culture seems obsessed with comparisons – from lists of the richest, sexiest, and most beautiful people to whole television shows dedicated to describing how much more fabulous someone else's life is than yours. It can be an uphill battle to be fully content with who you are and where you are in life. It's easy to believe that the grass is greener on the other side, but it never is. We all have a different history, a different set of circumstances, different advantages and disadvantages in life. Commit yourself to becoming better at simply being yourself and being your best. You were not meant to be like anyone else. You are most powerful when you are completely and totally comfortable with who God created you to be.

This month, I want to encourage you to resist the temptation to compare. Here are some of the most common ways people make comparisons. Do any of these resonate with you:

• Outward appearance (clothes, hair, looks)
• Possessions (house, car, bank account)
• Children (are yours doing better than someone else's, for example)
• Achievements
• Job titles
• Performance (on the job, academics, physical fitness, etc.)
• _________________________ (You fill in the blank!)

In a world that constantly gives us images of success that prize looks, money and fame, it can be easy to fall into a habit of trying to live up to unrealistic expectations. It's like being in a race and constantly looking around you to see who is gaining speed and who is falling behind. One of the most important keys to happiness is to stop comparing yourself to others, and to identify your own measure of success. This month, ask yourself these two questions, then write down your answers.

What is my personal definition of success? Based on my divine purpose, what does success look like for me in God's eyes?

Then, make a decision to begin comparing yourself to this new measure of success.