It might be tempting to look at the world around us and sit back in awe of the people who make music, who write books, who speak at events, etc. and wonder if there is room for us.
(There is room for you, by the way.)
Here’s my encouragement: no one will ever be better at being you than YOU!
We all have experienced life differently, and that means we each have something unduplicatable, special, and unique to offer the world.
Just because someone has done something before doesn’t mean you can’t do it, too. No one has ever read YOUR words or heard YOUR music or listened to YOUR message.
I know it is easy to get caught up in comparison when we look at what our friends, family, peers, co-workers, etc. have accomplished so far in life, but I want to remind you that your journey is YOURS, and no matter where you are in your business right now, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
Here are 7 things you can do to combat comparison ⤵️
1. Remind yourself that her success is not your failure.
Just because she achieved the goal faster than you doesn't mean the goal is off the table for you!
Find inspiration in her accomplishment because her achieving the goal means you can achieve it as well.
2. Embrace your strengths.
We each have our own unique gifts, and those gifts, talents, successes, etc. are entirely unique to you and who God made you to be.
You are too unique to be properly compared to anyone else.
You can't compare pizza to donuts!
Yes, they both taste delicious, but at the end of the day, they are completely different, just like we are.
We all move through life at different paces with different purposes.
3. Focus on what you can improve: YOURSELF!
You cannot control someone else's successes, but you can control yours by the things you do daily.
Write down your own goals and then make your own actionable success plan. Consider utilizing a habit/productivity tracker to help you with this (I created a business-specific habit tracker that also takes into account the bigger picture if you need the support. You can find it here).
4. Compete with yourself.
Instead of looking at where someone else is at, pay attention to where you were at this time last year or this time five years ago.
If you have improved even a little bit, you are well on your way to success.
5. Practice gratitude.
When you are thankful for the things you have, you will feel happier and more content regardless of your circumstances, and when you're happy with where you are in life, you aren't concerned with what other people are doing.
6. Limit your time on social media.
It is easy to get sucked into the comparison trap when we are constantly face to face with the best parts of everyone else's lives.
Don't forget that social media does not always reflect reality.
7. Remember that you do not have the complete picture of someone's life.
Maybe they achieved a goal in record time, but you don't know the sacrifices they made, the sleep they lost, the extremes they may have gone to to achieve the goal in the time they did.
Take a breath and remind yourself that your journey is YOURS, and no matter where you are in life right now, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
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