The Fastest Way to Make Yourself Miserable
May 18, 2018
You’re scrolling through Facebook, and what do you see?
That guy from high school you haven’t talked to in years posted a photo of his family in matching outfits and adorable smiles.
That couple you knew in college is doing a food tour in Taipei.
That girl you used to work with is posting another selfie at the gym after losing 15 pounds.
That guy you met at a conference just bought a bigger home in a school district you’ve always wanted to be in.
And what are YOU doing?
You’re sitting in the car rider line at your oldest child’s school while your toddler screams from her car seat behind you because the movie on the iPad quit playing, and you’re hoping your son will be able to fix it for her before you have to drop him off at soccer practice, which happens to end right before you have to be at your women’s group. And by the way, it’s your turn to bring refreshments. You forgot, didn’t you? ... Now your husband just sent you a text to let you know his mother is coming to town this weekend.
Those vulnerable moments aren’t what we see on social media. We only get a glimpse of someone’s highlight reel, yet, we compare our weakest moments to the pristine images that plague our minds with the idea of perfection.
But I'm going to tell you something ... The fastest way to make yourself miserable is to compare yourself to others by these fake standards.
When you compare yourself to someone else, and you start experiencing a little jealousy, you may be thinking, “I really want what they have.” But what your heart is really saying is, “I just want to be happy.”
But here’s something to keep in mind …
That guy from high school with the smiling family photo? His kids were having a meltdown, and that’s the 100th photo that had to be taken.
That couple doing the food tour? They got food poisoning.
The girl who lost 15 pounds? That’s not where she started, and her journey to get there was difficult.
That guy who bought the new house? Just went into massive debt with a mortgage.
In my latest course on Boundaries.Me, I sit down with Rachel Cruze, who you may know as the daughter of Dave Ramsey, and the author of Love Your Life, Not Theirs. We discuss the different reasons why we compare ourselves to others, the trouble it gets us into, how it makes us feel, and what we can do to go after the truest desires of our hearts that give us the fulfillment we strive for in our lives.
This course will be ready a little bit later today, and if you’re already a member of Boundaries.Me, you can log in right here to check it out.
If you’re not part of the Boundaries.Me community, I invite you to join me right here. And when you join today, you’ll get access to my private group, where I’m leading discussions about self-image, finding healthy relationships, breaking codependent habits, understanding your personal boundaries, and so much more. Myself and 1100+ people are offering support and encouragement in a safe community where you can reach out to others who are making the same healthy changes to their lives as well.
