I attended a couple of different events last week. I met some people who have had amazing experiences throughout their lives. To be completely transparent with you, I went into comparison mode. “They have done so much more in their life than I have ever done.” I started comparing my life to theirs. I didn’t stay in that mode for long, but it definitely happened. I am working on rewiring that comparison thing that happens for me, but it is still my default.
I was sharing some of these experiences with a friend of mine yesterday. Telling her how amazing these people were and what they had already done at a very young age. Again I was in comparison mode. She didn’t miss a beat, when she said “How many kids do they have?” and “Did they have to take care of their sick parents?” I was so grateful for her questions because just hearing them was the reminder that I have done a lot too. (I am also grateful that I have friends who will tell me when I am veering off course!) My experiences and outcomes were different, but they were wonderful and unique to me. (I just envisioned, the Angel Clarence telling George Bailey “that he really had a wonderful life.” from the movie It’s A Wonderful Life!)
I still struggle with these things on a regular basis, even though I have been working on it. I choose to be authentic which means I am transparent when things are going great and when things are a bit messy. I am not perfect. I am grateful that I can just be me and not have to put on any sort of show for people. It takes so much energy to do that every day. What if you just stopped worrying about what everyone else was doing and just showed up as your authentic wonderful self today? Are you ready to try it?