The Danger of Comparing Ourselves to Others

Recently, I found myself on several blogs. One was about how to raise a child in faith, another shared creative ways to teach skills at home to preschoolers. I read another about home organization.

They were inspiring, encouraging, and in no way boastful. Yet, I grew defeated and weary. I do so little of those things in my own home.

I was at a friend's house a few weeks back. I stood in her living room staring in awe at her immaculate home. Children's music played softly in the background, dinner simmered on the stove, her toddler happily constructed a craft at the table.

Where to begin? My house never looks like that! Dinner is never simmering at 2:00 in the afternoon. We never do crafts.

Everywhere I turn there is someone who seems to have it together better than I do. Someone who can cook three solid meals a day without burning any of it. Someone who stays cool and collected as her toddler throws a tantrum in public. Someone who has perfect hair and a trendy wardrobe.

But, comparing ourselves to others is incredibly destructive behavior. And it's an unnecessary burden.

The reality is, God made each of us unique. We have different personalities, different talents, and different ways of moving the world.

Most days I can't cook to save my life. My house is chaotic and unorganized. I don't always remember to make my bed. Sometimes I leave my pajamas on the bathroom floor.

But, there are a lot of things that I do right. There are a lot of things that I do well.

I once saw a quote that said, "Don't compare your worst to someone else's best."

We all try to put our best foot forward. We try to make it look like we have it all together. Some of us are more successful at it than others, but we are all guilty of hiding our imperfections.

But the truth is, we all have weaknesses. We all have flaws. We all have things about ourselves we wish we could change. We all compare ourselves to others.

But today's the day that we STOP.

Don't let comparison steal the joy from your own life.

Make peace with the fact that someone else will always do it better, wear it better, and say it better. Someone else will be more successful. Someone else will be healthier. Someone else will seem to have it all.

Recognize your strengths. Focus on what you do well and incorporate those things into daily life. Use your God-given talents to make the world a better place.

Accept yourself for who you are. Let's face it. There are certain things about ourselves that will never change. It's okay. We don't have to be perfect.

But, today is a great day to change for the better. Have a bad habit you need to break? Want to make healthier choices? Need a better schedule? Wish you could stop yelling? Whatever it is, start making small steps in the right direction. Spend your energy on self-improvement rather than self-loathing.

Life is far too short to waste time comparing ourselves to others. There's no need to feel defeated over something someone else has accomplished. Instead, we must embrace who we are- talents, flaws, and all.