Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139).

It is easy for us to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. We emulate the wealthy and what they have; we desire the body of a fitness model; or the status of a celebrity. We even devalue others through comparing our lives to their lives to find some way that we are doing better. I am convinced that comparing is one contributor to why reality tv is so popular, we can escape our lives for a period of time and judge the craziness of someone else.

Comparing ourselves to others becomes toxic when we reduce our self-worth because in our mind we do not match up. We start a new diet and exercise program and we drop off after a few months because we do not look like people on social media. We decide to learn a new skill but quit when we are not at an elite level. We stifle our own potential through comparing ourselves to people we are not and never will be!

Comparing can become even more detrimental as we age. We will not be able to do and attain what a 25 year old can in a 50 year old body. But we can be the best 50 year old version of ourselves! Hear me out, at 56, I lift weights 5 days/week, run 4-5 miles 3 days/week, train Muay Thai, BJJ, and JKD 3-4 days/week and I know I can longer do what I could do at 25. But, I keep getting better compared to myself last year, six months ago and three months ago. I have learned to compare me to the past me.

We must realize that we have been created by God as unique individuals with talents, abilities, and gifts that no one else has identically as we do. Use what you have been given to become the best version of yourself as possible. The psalm reminds us to 'Praise' or Thank God everyday because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank God for who you are and love yourself for who you are and strive to be the best version of you no matter what!