Comparison is a thief of Joy – Teddy Roosevelt

Do you struggle with comparison? I do.

I see one lady who is incredibly fit and wish I had her body.

I see another lady who always dresses so cute and wish I had her clothes.

Another friend has the PERFECT house and I wish mine looked like that.

I read blogs and books and wish I could write as good as those writers.

I hear someone speak well and wish I was articulate as them.

But all of these comparisons leave me feeling like I’m not good enough and don’t have enough.

Comparison is a thief – it’s stealing my joy one thought at a time.

How do I conquer this? I stop myself from thinking about what I don’t have and begin to focus on all that I DO have.

I may not be as fit and strong as some ladies I know but I am healthy.

I don’t have the the world’s best wardrobe but I do have so have some incredibly cute things that I’ve found at the thrift store.

I don’t have a picture perfect home but the home we have is very nice and filled with love and happiness.

I’m not the world’s best writer but I keep writing and I’m getting better.

When I change my thoughts from what I don’t have to what I DO have…my heart fills with gratitude. When I focus on what is going well and the gifts God has given me, I begin to experience peace and JOY.

When you are looking at those posts on social media and beginning to compare your life to theirs – stop and remember your blessings. Put down the phone and pick up a good book. Call a friend for encouragement. Ask God to show you what He has put inside YOU – then develop and use those gifts! The more you use YOUR gifts, the stronger they become.

I’m grateful that this world is made up of individuals with such diverse talents who each make the world better with their gifts and contributions. Some of you are using your talent for design and making this world more beautiful – one space at a time. Others are speakers, spreading encouragement and hope, one message at a time. Some are photographers – capturing those beautiful moments one snapshot at a time. Some of you are moms – investing in young lives, one hour at a time.

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We each have blessing, gifts, and talents and those are for us to enjoy and to share with others!

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“A FLOWER DOES NOT THINK OF COMPETING WITH THE FLOWER NEXT TO IT. IT JUST BLOOMS.” – ZEN SHIN

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“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭10:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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If you know your gift – leave a comment and share it with me! If you aren’t sure, take some time to ask God and others to help you discover it!