{"id":2166,"date":"2020-09-23T12:22:06","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T12:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=2166"},"modified":"2020-09-23T12:22:06","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T12:22:06","slug":"stop-comparing-and-start-loving-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2020\/09\/stop-comparing-and-start-loving-your-life.html","title":{"rendered":"Stop Comparing and Start Loving Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"compare\"<\/a>
Photo by Bich Tran from Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From time to time, we all make the mistake of playing the Comparison Game.\u00a0 We may compare our homes, cars, or careers to those of our friends and neighbors.\u00a0 We may compare our weight or our wardrobes.\u00a0 There is no end to the ways that we can compare ourselves to others.\u00a0 The problem is that comparing ourselves to others prevents us from loving the lives that we have.<\/p>\n

The reality is that there will always be someone who is richer, more beautiful and better dressed than you.\u00a0 The Comparison Game is one that you will never win.\u00a0 If you spend your time comparing yourself to others you will end up being frustrated.\u00a0 And you will fail to appreciate the many ways in which you are truly blessed in your own life.<\/p>\n

Below are some ways to stop comparing your life to others.\u00a0 Try these approaches and start loving the great life that you have.<\/p>\n

Realize That Everyone\u2019s Life Is A Mixed Bag<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I have a friend who lives in a magnificent home.\u00a0 Her house is enormous and stunning, and the grounds of her property are so serene.\u00a0 If I were her, I would feel blessed to wake up every morning in such a beautiful place.<\/p>\n

But my friend\u2019s life is not perfect.\u00a0 She has a son who has significant health issues, and his struggles consume a large part of her daily life.\u00a0 Notwithstanding her beautiful home, her life is not easy by any stretch of the imagination.<\/p>\n

Realize that no one\u2019s life is perfect.\u00a0 Just like you, everyone has a mixed bag of good and bad in life.\u00a0 So, don\u2019t feel badly about your life just because one aspect of it is worse than someone else\u2019s.\u00a0 Everyone has blessings and burdens in life.\u00a0 Their blessings and burdens simply are different from yours.<\/p>\n

Realize That We All Have Good and Bad Periods in Life<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not only are our lives a mixed bag of good and bad, but every life has positive periods, and periods of struggle.\u00a0 So, don\u2019t be envious someone\u2019s good fortune today.\u00a0 Realize that person likely has had their share of adversity in life.<\/p>\n

For example, if you looked at my life today, you would think that I am pretty lucky.\u00a0 And you would be right!\u00a0 I live in a pretty house, with a kind and generous husband.\u00a0 My daughter is a wonderful person and the apple of my eye.\u00a0 My home life is peaceful and sweet, and I spend my days being incredibly thankful.<\/p>\n

But my life wasn\u2019t always this way.\u00a0 10 years ago, I went through a very stressful divorce.\u00a0 During that period, I had daily stomachaches, headaches, and my hair turned prematurely gray.\u00a0 No one<\/em> would have envied my life at that time!<\/p>\n

But life ebbs and flows.\u00a0 So, realize that there is no point in being jealous of others.\u00a0 Everyone has ups and downs, good and bad.<\/p>\n

Comparing Your Talents with Others Is Like Comparing Apples and Oranges<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We all have been blessed with certain talents, and we should take pride in those talents.\u00a0 But as wonderful as our talents are, there will always be someone whose talents are superior to ours.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be discouraged by that fact.\u00a0 Realize that you don\u2019t have to be the best<\/em> at anything.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because you are the best at one thing \u2013 being you.\u00a0 That may sound corny, but it\u2019s true.\u00a0 There is no one with your special package of qualities and talents.\u00a0 No one!\u00a0 So, comparing your talents with those of others is like comparing apples and oranges.\u00a0 What you have to offer the world is unique.<\/em><\/p>\n

For example, if I spent my time comparing myself to every other writer in the world, I would never write a single word.\u00a0 I would be too intimidated by the many exceptionally talented writers out there.\u00a0 If I compared myself to others, and I might conclude, \u201cWhat can I possibly say that would be helpful compared to Oprah or Jack Canfield?\u201d<\/p>\n

But I don\u2019t worry about other writers.\u00a0 I know that I have a unique perspective to offer.\u00a0 And in my heart, I truly believe that I have something helpful to say to people.\u00a0 So, I am happy to use the special mix of talents that God has given me as best as I can!<\/p>\n

Comparing Yourself to Others Stops You from Achieving Your Life Purpose<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The biggest problem with playing the Comparison Game is that it distracts us from achieving our life purpose.\u00a0 God has put each of us on this earth for a very specific purpose.\u00a0 He gave each of us special skills and talents to achieve that purpose.\u00a0 If you are obsessed with having your best friend\u2019s home or your neighbor\u2019s career, then you won\u2019t be working on what you are supposed to be working on \u2013 your life purpose.<\/p>\n

So, you have to be like a horse racing with blinders on.\u00a0 Don\u2019t look to your left or your right.\u00a0 Look straight ahead.\u00a0 Use the talents that you\u2019ve been given and achieve what you<\/em> have been meant to achieve.<\/p>\n

For example, Barack Obama was meant to be a politician.\u00a0 He was blessed with the personality and skills for political life.\u00a0 If he had spent his life trying to be a professional golfer, I doubt that he would have been very successful.\u00a0 Similarly, Tiger Woods was meant to be a professional golfer.\u00a0 He was given the incredible physical skills necessary to be the world\u2019s top golfer.\u00a0 If he had tried to be a jazz singer, I doubt that would have gone very well!\u00a0 God created each of us to do something different with our lives.<\/p>\n

Realize that when you compare yourself to others, it sets you down a wrong path.\u00a0 You inevitably start trying to be someone who you weren\u2019t meant to be.\u00a0 And that is a tragedy because you have something very unique and important to offer the world.<\/p>\n

So, stop playing the Comparison Game.\u00a0 Comparing yourself to others is not a recipe for success.\u00a0 Instead, love yourself.\u00a0 Love your life with its good and bad.\u00a0 If you do so, you will be on the path to true happiness and success.\u00a0 (To read more about running your own race, click here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Email: meerabelle@meerabelledey.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

To receive a copy of my free e-book, \u201cThe Confidence Course,\u201d and my weekly newsletter, go to meerabelledey.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From time to time, we all make the mistake of playing the Comparison Game.\u00a0 We may compare our homes, cars, or careers to those of our friends and neighbors.\u00a0 We may compare our weight or our wardrobes.\u00a0 There is no end to the ways that we can compare ourselves to others.\u00a0 The problem is that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nStop Comparing and Start Loving Your Life - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We all play The Comparison Game. We compare ourselves to others and end up feeling badly. 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