In this day and age of social media, it's hard not to compare your life to the lives you see on your screen. Whether it is social media "influencers," or even our closet friends, we are impacted by what we expose ourselves to daily. Intellectually, we all know that social media posts are only a fraction of a person's life. We remind ourselves that our friends' posts are as manicured as ours are. Yet, despite that, we so often are left with a twinge of envy. Why is it that we keep finding ourselves getting jealous? Why do we compare our real life to their "fake" ones?
It is normal to compare yourself to those around you. For many, comparing themselves to others can even be advantageous. Comparison, jealousy, just like most things in life, isn't good or evil. If used to motivate, to inspire, drawing parallels with those around you can be beneficial, but what if that comparison leaves you feeling inadequate.
Teddy Roosevelt once wrote, "Comparison is the thief of joy." This quote is something I think about often when I am in session. Every day I hear stories of how people don't feel like they are enough. They feel like they can't compete with their peers and question if they should show up at all.
How do we fight this constant feeling of not stacking up? Here are three ideas that you can implement in your daily life:
1. Mindfulness: It is easy to get swept up in comparing yourself to others and feel inferior. When you feel that pull first, take a few deep breaths in an out. Allow yourself to relax. It is important to remember to not judge yourself for comparing yourself to your peers. We can't control how we feel, but we can control how we act on those feelings. Take a few moments to be present to how you feel and think about what you want. Let the feelings of jealousy melt away.
2. Journal: Be present to what you do have. Take a few minutes every day to write down three things you feel lucky to have in your life. They can be accomplishments, people, or even belongings that you feel add to your life. By focusing on gratitude, you will train yourself to be less inclined to compare yourself to others.
3. The Journey: Remember that no one is perfect. Everyone has struggles, even those who we are most envious of. We all have things in life we wish were different. The journey of life is about being your best self in any given moment, not about being perfect. Try to enjoy the trip.
If you need help on that journey, I hope you will let me be that help. Check out my website: Stevengreentherapy.com and schedule an appointment.
It is normal to compare yourself to those around you. For many, comparing themselves to others can even be advantageous. Comparison, jealousy, just like most things in life, isn't good or evil. If used to motivate, to inspire, drawing parallels with those around you can be beneficial, but what if that comparison leaves you feeling inadequate.
Teddy Roosevelt once wrote, "Comparison is the thief of joy." This quote is something I think about often when I am in session. Every day I hear stories of how people don't feel like they are enough. They feel like they can't compete with their peers and question if they should show up at all.
How do we fight this constant feeling of not stacking up? Here are three ideas that you can implement in your daily life:
1. Mindfulness: It is easy to get swept up in comparing yourself to others and feel inferior. When you feel that pull first, take a few deep breaths in an out. Allow yourself to relax. It is important to remember to not judge yourself for comparing yourself to your peers. We can't control how we feel, but we can control how we act on those feelings. Take a few moments to be present to how you feel and think about what you want. Let the feelings of jealousy melt away.
2. Journal: Be present to what you do have. Take a few minutes every day to write down three things you feel lucky to have in your life. They can be accomplishments, people, or even belongings that you feel add to your life. By focusing on gratitude, you will train yourself to be less inclined to compare yourself to others.
3. The Journey: Remember that no one is perfect. Everyone has struggles, even those who we are most envious of. We all have things in life we wish were different. The journey of life is about being your best self in any given moment, not about being perfect. Try to enjoy the trip.
If you need help on that journey, I hope you will let me be that help. Check out my website: Stevengreentherapy.com and schedule an appointment.
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