Stop Comparing

Such an easy thought to have but sometimes it can be so hard to implement.  Stop comparing.  Now, I cannot speak for men, although I am sure them also compare themselves to others, but we women are notorious for this.  We get it from the media, magazines, Internet articles, our friends, acquaintances, and yes, even our parents.  We are encouraged throughout life to look at other people's lives and compare them to ours.  We always hope to come out on top, but many times we do not succeed and end up feeling like a piece of crap over it.

I will admit that I am big on comparison shopping.  I constantly compare myself to other people...where are they at in their lives compared to me; how much money do they make; career status; married or single; children; the list goes on and on.  Sometimes I find myself on the "winning" end of the comparison and I can breathe a sigh of relief. Other times, though, I feel unproductive, an underachiever, less pretty, less thin, less successful.

The thing to remember, which I am trying to do myself, is that we are all different people and want different things in our lives. Not only that, but we are at different places in our lives no matter what our age may be.  The important thing is to be true to yourself and focus on what you want in life at your own pace.  Live for yourself, not for others.  I read a quote recently that stated, "Comparison is not equal in that you are comparing your insides to someone else's outsides."  That is so true. We need to look within ourselves and live in the moment.  I'm trying to do so one step at a time.