Lately I have found myself to be sinking into a bit of an upsetting manor.
One where I compare and compare and always seem to come out on the losing end. I pick out flaws and seeming failures, and can too easily base my feelings and outcomes on my perception of others.
My photography is not where I want it to be, my blog is not as big as I would like, so and so cooks so much better than me, I'm not doing homeschooling as efficiently as this gal is, we need to be doing this like this family and so on and so forth. An unending cycle that must be broken.
Last night, I sat myself down- it was time to have a serious chat with me. "Comparison is the thief of joy," I've heard said over and over, and how true it is. As soon as I start comparing myself to others, I can feel the pride for what I have accomplished and the happiness for my little life, start slipping away.
No more, I say! This is who I am, and it's exactly who and where I need to be at this moment in time. It's not about getting somewhere or being something. It's about enjoying this moment that I'm in. Life is far too fleeting to waste another minute on comparing myself to anybody else.
"be who you were created to be and you will set the world on fire."- St. Catherine of Sienna
Images captured by my beautiful Aussie girl:)
Oh how I can relate!! And about some of the very same things! Photography, blog numbers, organization or lack thereof! I've had to have this very pep talk with myself far too many times!! I have a faith in God and have to constantly remind myself that I am who He has made me to be. Going through these bumps helps us to grow and hopefully makes us wiser and stronger along the way.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know it's not just me. It's a good reminder when it gets to much!
DeleteSuch truth! I feel the same way all the time... But it is important to remember we are each special and different and no two journeys are ever the same! You are beautiful! Love the hat.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely post. I feel like this often too, but I am really trying to just accept who I am and not worry about everything else. Hopefully you will get your mojo back soon.
ReplyDeletehttp://worldbloggers.net/
Wonderful post. We all forget how lucky we are, don't we? [I know I do]. We're all amazing. All brilliant. All full of potential. I read something that said something along the lines of 'you shouldn't compare your 'not there yet' with someone else's 'completed' - it gave me a lot of comfort. I think we forget, sometimes, just to enjoy, to chill, to savour. We rush, compare, rush, compare, and feel *less* because of it all. When what we should do is always try to feel more. More beautiful. More accomplished. Through a change in perspective or working on improvements (if that's what we decide, objectively, *is* needed). [Look at me talking - I've been in a two-week long funk myself!]....
ReplyDeleteI think we can all relate to this feeling in some way or another! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. And the pictures are just stunning x
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing post and with the best pictures ever. I agree, we tend to forget how blessed we are!
ReplyDeleteUgh. I can relate to this so much! I try not to look at the accomplishments of others unless I am looking to learn because seriously? It's not fair! None of us are each other - we are only ourselves. So whenever I start feeling mopey and wishing my work was as good as someone else's, I have taken to immediately listing 5 wonderful things in my life that I am grateful for at that moment. Anything from the way the sun is streaming in through the window to way my dogs curl up next to me. It changes my perspective every time.
ReplyDeletehttp://lamentinglizzie.blogspot.com
Absolutely in LOVE with this hat!!! And her beanie too :) I have a little 4 mo old daughter <3
ReplyDeleteCheck out my blog sometime xoxo
http://thejoifullife.com/
I have been struggling with this same thing. I don't know what's worse when I compare myself to others - finding myself lacking or thinking I'm better than someone else. I hate both! I will keep that quote - comparison is the thief of joy - in mind. So true!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog through Rach at This Italian Family. :)
Aussie is such a great photographer. I really love that quote.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites quotes I tell myself that I'd like to pass along to you: "I am the only me this world will ever know. And something about me is meant to make something about God known in a way that no one else can". Love ya!
ReplyDeleteyour photography isn't where you want it to be? coulda fooled me. i come over here and just drown in the sweetness of your writing/your family/the endearing stories.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate... I used to compare myself and all it did was make me feel bad about myself. Even start to "hate" who I was. Then I started comparing my blog and I starting doing the same. I've learned to just stop comparing and just start enjoying... I love my blog and even if it's not 100% perfect it's my blog and there's not another one just like it and that's pretty awesome. Everyone's blog is different so of course there will always be differences... but I think that's a good thing. Who wants to read the same blog over and over again? :)
ReplyDeleteJessica
the.pyreflies.org
You have so many talents and are very gifted! I lust after your pictures. I think they're captured so beautifully and you have great style. Don't be hard on yourself. You are amazing. I find a lot of bloggers (including me) are perfectionists. HAHAHA What others find perfect, we do not. We always want it to be better.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.averysweetblog.com/
well, from where i am sitting and reading you are living life beautifully! i am so guilty of comparing myself to other women. it is almost embarrassing and i feel so childlike for feeling that way! we do the best we can and love the best we can. that is truly all that matters. and sometimes we stumble upon other women, like you, and feel so inspired and in awe. keep up the work, lady! you are everything!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and so on point for the blogging world! It's really hard not to compare yourself to others, especially in blogging, where we (for the most part) only see the polished, edited parts of life. But, you're so right -- at the end of the day, it's about being happy in the life we have, not seeking out the life of another!
ReplyDeleteYour photographs are beautiful! It is so important to remember to be yourself, and no compare to anyone else's blog/ parenting/ etc but I often fail at this. A great reminder!
ReplyDeleteThat last quote is one of my favorites!! I love it! And these pictures are precious - your Aussie girl did a great job!
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