I know you do it. But, I wish you would stop comparing yourself to others.
Here I am at the end of another weekend thinking about how I accomplished about a quarter of what I hoped to do. This frustration has the potential to take over my mind and fool me into thinking so many negative things about myself.
Everyone gets their stuff done but me.
It’s ridiculous when I say it out loud, but I’m a total victim of the voice when it is my head.
Why am I so busy comparing myself to others?
Am I OK?
Am I normal?
I wish I had a dime for everytime someone asks me these questions. So obviously, this is not just me thinking this. We just want to know where we fall in the pack because God forbid we are last.
Please don’t let me be last!
Watch my video to see what to do…
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
There is no normal.
So stop comparing yourself to “normal.” Since without a defined normal, you will always fall short.
Normal doesn’t exist. There is no universal normal, but thinking there is creates a “pseudo” normal, which is this high standard that nobody can clearly define (since it is not real) so that they just keep assuming it’s higher than themselves. Everyone fails in normal.
This is what I commit to:
Stop worrying. Let go of perfectionism. Perfectionism never helped anyone anyway. Perfectionism is pure guilt. It holds me still and doesn’t let me do anything (lest I don’t do it right). I don’t have time for that. I am too busy living.
Go with the flow! Self-doubt has a way of stopping me from doing what my heart wants to do. When I feel that heart tug, I dig in and don’t let any excuses get in my way. I only have to do one thing at a time.
Celebrate what I do and let that give me energy for the next step.
Enjoy the journey. Look around and connect with the people around me. I am not in a race. This world is a kaleidoscope of characters. I want to connect with as many hearts as I can. I’m fine. I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. I can enjoy myself.
Lighten up. I can’t take myself so seriously. There will always be more to do. It really doesn’t matter what gets done as long as I make sure I make time for what is most important. People. Fun. Prayer. Laughter. Nature.
I can relax and enjoy the night with my family knowing that I did some good things this weekend. And even though I had to make choices, I am glad about the choices I made. How I did compared to everyone doesn’t matter.
I’m in the middle and I belong here.
What do you do when negativity and doubt try to tell you that you are behind the pack?
I try to stop judging myself and to begin loving myself instead.
Yay Stanley, Keep it up, you are so worth it!
Jodi Aman recently posted..Are you normal?
Love your optimism & approach. Another thought: consider the possibility that abnormal does exist in the world. Example: In a hypothetical world of extreme violence, appearing “normal” might be considered strange. Who would one have to be in order to appear “normal” in a grossly “abnormal” world? Very abnormal!? Said another way: Appearing “abnormal” (to the masses) would be very personally healthy in a world “out of control.” Dare to be different! Take the road “less traveled.” It might make all the difference from more than one perspective. Being a lemming in the middle of the pack heading for the cliff, might not be too smart. Wish it were easier. Being “upbeat” would still be a plus. Love you,
Thanks, Ivan! I always think of that Twilight Zone episode where the girl thinks she’s ugly after an accident or something (beautiful by our standards) and at the end you find out everyone else has pig noses. So her beauty is abnormal. There is so much beautiful and richness in abnormal, who’d want to be normal anyway? Actually I love being unique and endeavor to be unique as much as possible! Love you too! Thanks so much for commenting!
Jodi Aman recently posted..Are you normal?
Jodi,
I love that Twilight Zone episode!!! xxx
My Inner Chick recently posted..Encounter With A Mythical God
Such insight.
Such eloquent.
Such TRUTH.
Jodi, you articulate what most of us “Think.” & I love it.
I continually feel better & a bit more “Normal” when I visit here!
You rock Like GAGA, my little guru. xxxxxxxx
My Inner Chick recently posted..Encounter With A Mythical God
Thanks Kim, you always make me feel so good! xoxo
Jodi Aman recently posted..Love up instead of worrying down
I’ve never wanted to be normal. I think it’s great that everyone is different.
Kelly Hashway recently posted..Monday Mishmash 7/28/14
Me, too!
Hi Jodi,
Very much the same things you mentioned above 🙂
Yes, there are times when one is stressed and there seems to be negativity all around. I think you just need to let go of certain thoughts and things and learn to take it easy. Things are never perfect or completely normal as you mentioned, and if they are, they don’t remain like that for long, so you need ways to cope with it all.
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
We are forever changing and that is a good thing! Thanks, Harleena!
Jodi Aman recently posted..When your love is insecure
I use to worry that I was not normal until I realized there was no normal. The one’s who are so focused on being normal may be the craziest among us. It is so true that we need to lighten up and enjoy the journey. Life is short and we may die at any moment so we might as well make the best of it.
Congrats on your new book!
Jodi Aman recently posted..Three reasons you think he doesn’t love you
Thanks. I appreciate that : D.
I’m committed to not worrying and you’ve reminded you of that. Since I’m reading something positive every day to motivate, this will serve as another area in which to improve. Thanks.
You are very welcome, Totsy. Your posts entertain me and keep me light and happy!
Hi Jodi,
I agree with you – it is ingrained in our culture to compare, to excel, to go, go go and that brings all those thoughts of getting left behind. That is why we always wonder – why am I not better, why couldn’t I accomplish what my friend or colleague could?
But we forget what you rightly point out…it is not a race – it is our life. We must live it fully, comfortably, according to our own wishes and plans, if any. It is right go with the flow, trust ourselves and think positive to remain normal. Those who try to pretend that they are not normal have to come down from their flights of fantasy and face the realities of life!
Thanks for sharing lovely thoughts.
Balroop Singh recently posted..THE POWER OF WORDS
Balroop, I so agree! We all kind of know it is not a race, but then we still act as if it is. Silly people, we humans are!
Jodi Aman recently posted..The best breathing technique for a panic attack
You know, Jodi, this weekend I had so much to do, too. Several articles and reports to write. But I ended up enjoying it. On Saturday, I spent most of the day with my cousins who were in town for the weekend and cousins who live nearby. Then on Sunday I went for a long bike ride with a friend, who’s been having some hard times. But we just chatted about other stuff and rode to our heart’s content, topping if off with piña coladas. Yum! After that my son came over for dinner. See what I mean? I accomplished 25 percent of what I wanted to do and I had so much fun! For some reason, I didn’t care, and I still don’t care that I haven’t written a blog for this week. Oh well.
monicastangledweb recently posted..Camp Life: Breaking Curfew
Sounds like a beautiful weekend. All of it so worthy of your time and energy. You’re a good mom/cousin/friend. Weeks for blog posts come and go. I see that it doesn’t really matter if I skip one. I’d choose people every time!
Jodi- you are so awesome with your energy and empathy. SO glad you are doing this excellent work, I look forward to applying your techniques. #mymostlife Mo Faul
Maureen,
So happy to have you here! Love your site!
When I find myself becoming negative and feeling like I cant compete with others and I’ll never be good enough, I will find myself thinking of different ways to get what I need to get done. If I am worried about a deadline and think that everyone gets done before me, I will try and keep myself calm and tell myself that I am working on something different and I am putting forth my best effort. I think positive self talk can go a long way.
It definitely can! Great work!
You are so right, it’s not linear. I’m going to hang on to that one and remind myself. I’m also terrible at comparing myself to others sometimes. I try to not analyze what I’m doing in comparison to others so much, and tell myself, “Hey, I’m just doing my thing.” In the same vein, I’m working to not judge what others are doing, because hey, they’re just doing their thing.
Laura Zera recently posted..PNWA 2014 Writersâ Conference: When Zen Sets In
It’s like we know, we just have to have this constant reminders. Then we think we are the only ones having to remember. But no, everyone is doing the same thing!
Jodi Aman recently posted..How to be present in the midst of crazy #thrivethursday
This is sooooo common! This topic is always a huge one for me, all of my photography friends are all ahead of me and I use to be so self conscious about it and felt like a failure. But now since I surround myself with positive people, that feeling is going away little by little 🙂
Yeah! I’d love to be one of those positive people!
Hi Jodi! Another post that perfectly expresses what so many of us feel. I could read your list as affirmations every single day. I should read your, “I’m not in race” over and over again–maybe it’s my FOMO rearing it’s ugly head! 🙂
Something else I do that is really helpful comes from all the Law Of Attraction work that I’ve been doing lately. Abraham-Hicks has a statement that really works for me. It is “Everything is always working out for me.” I’ve been saying it so much that any time something happens that doesn’t feel so great it comes to mind. And it really does help. ~Kathy
Awesome exercise! I am going to try it! So glad to add to you day! Have a good one!
Hi Jodi; Thanks for sharing these positive reminders with us. everyone hears those gremlins that say you aren’t good enough, you aren’t doing enough, you will never be good enough,etc. The real problem is comparing ourselves as you said. It doesn’t matter whether we are comparing ourselves to the neighbor down the street, a more successful blogger, or the mythical normal you referred to. Comparison is a losing game to be avoided at all costs. And i find one of the best things to do during these times is to take action. It could be spending time with the family or telling one of them i think they are special. It could be volunteering or reading a good book. It could be just taking a walk and getting moving. This is one of those posts we can’t hear too often. thanks for sharing and take care, Max
maxwell ivey recently posted..honored with guest post successfully migrated to word press and won OBSS contest 3rd prize
Thanks, Max, so kind of you to come over and add your two cents which very eloquently supports all my points! I am touched that you came over for a visit! You are an inspiration! <3
I don’t really care now about being normal, but I care about being accepted. I used to worry a lot about what normal is and try to fit in that category (I still do sometimes if criticized), thinking that people are judging me only because I am different. I wanted to be normal to go “unnoticed”, but with time I realized that those who criticize or judge will do it regardless of how you are, and those who don’t judge you wouldn’t however you look and whatever you do.
Nikky44 recently posted..I challenged the Fear
Right on, sister!
This is such a great post! A lot of people look at the end result and completely forget about the PROCESS and what it takes to get there. I love when you say “It’s not even linear” because it’s true haha! Amazing Jodi 🙂