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Don't let your comparison steal your joy
I often suffer with the comparison sickness, facebook, social media and blogging makes it all too easy to come under the influence. Mr and Mrs have had their third bundle of joy and you haven't even had your first, so and so is dating whatshisname and Ms. Blogger has ten thousand more blog followers then you could ever hope to have.
Comparisons make us dwell on what we haven't, rather than what we have. It steels away the joy of the moment, of the future, of what you're achieving at home, at work, in friendships and in blogs.
The moment we step back from comparing, from judging both others and ourselves we become more expecting, more gracious and loving to ourselves. We appreciate what we have achieved, not what we think we should have done years ago.
Life is a ride, life is a moment, a time, a second.
We all need more joy don't you think?!
This post is the #1 in the 2014bloggerchallenge - the subject, inspiration for 2014.
I totally agree - there's a massive difference between using others as inspiration, and becoming so hung up on what they're doing that you forget to enjoy your own life!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Joe, lovely - hope 2014 is a good one for you!
Jess xo
Yeah it's finding that line and that balance that's the important part, and with social media being so instantaneously and out there, I think it makes the line really blurred.
DeleteThank you for your best wishes - and all the best for your 2014!
We really all do need more joy. No such thing as too much! x
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteI completely agree that comparison can be the thief of joy. I think the key is in being inspired to do something because of something you've seen, but recognising what is applicable to you and your life and what isn't. We're all different people and what works for one is not the same as what works for another. As for social media as a root of comparison evil, I think it is important to remember that Facebook is a happiness exaggerator and blogging is a way of documenting good things. Neither reveal the truth about anyone's real situation and the troubles they face.
ReplyDeletexxx
Agreed, I think as bloggers we tend to shy away from posting anything negative to not dispute that notion of how positive and right our lives are. We tend to forget that everyone has ups and downs.
DeleteI wish my facebook feed was full of happiness though, it seems more and more to be a source of intense political debates and arguments over the tiniest of things.
I deleted Facebook but it used to make it look like everyone was having tons of fun! x
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly! I have to cut out comparing too. It is a total thief of joy! I'm all for being happy this year and no comparing!!! =) Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteYeap - no more comparisons!
DeleteI too suffer with comparison sickness, but that's slowly starting to fade. We all need to be happy and thankful for what we have got (family, friends, a home) which is all that truly matters! All the best for 2014!
ReplyDeletehttp://laurenslittleblogs.blogspot.co.uk/
xx
I think it is something that does fade as we age, i'm certainly not bothered about stuff as much as I use to be, but it's often when people compare their life to yours and question your life, it gets all too real again!
DeleteYes, yes and yes! The comparison monster is evil. I think it happens to all of us to some extent, even the people who we're comparing ourselves to who seem to have it "better". I've been seeing a lot lately about happiness and/or gratitude jars/journals and I'm starting to think that keeping one would be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteThose journals/jars sound interesting, spent the last 10 minutes reading about them since you mentioned it - they seem pretty worth while. I think it's wise to focus on what people your grateful for over processions and such.
DeleteI totally agree. Sometimes I feel so disheartened and that's all because I'm comparing it to something else, especially with my blog, when really I just need to think about the good things i'm getting out of it! And social media is all false words and lies, Facebook especially is just pages of 'weeee look how good my life is, look how much fun me and my huge group of friends are having!!' I would delete mine if I didn't use it for a way of messaging. xxx
ReplyDeleteYeah facebook for me these days is something to play games on and follow restaurants in all honesty which is probably why I prefer twitter these days - although the same issues facebook has can be found there too. I compare my blog to others a lot more than I probably should for someone that's been blogging for four years, I should probably be a lot more confident in what I post, but it affects us all in the end!
DeleteI completely agree! Comparing yourself to others will do nothing but make you feel worse about yourself. The only person you should be comparing yourself to is the person you were yesterday! Great blog post! I just wrote my first 2014 bogger challenge post if you want to check it out!
ReplyDeletehttp://alittlelookinsideme.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-years-inspiration.html
Kristen | Life & Laughter
That is such a good way of thinking about it!
DeleteCouldn't agree more. Growing up with five sisters, I've always compared myself to them (and then just about everyone else) but focussing on what you're missing that they have, does mean you aren't always aware of what you DO have.
ReplyDeleteDebi x
Wow I bet that was an experience growing up with so many sisters (especially as i'm an only child!). It's sadly all too easy to forget what we have, and Christmas and materialism seems to always make us want more.
DeleteSomething I'm definitely guilty of! It can be difficult not to compare yourself and find your life lacking but this year I'm going to try and make a conscious effort not to do that but instead be happy with what I have. Which really is MORE than enough.
ReplyDeleteSorcha x Bright Field Notes
Being happy really does go a long way - granted it doesn't pay the bills but it can turn around how you feel about a job, day, situation.
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