I journal, meditate and reflect daily…today I’m feeling very strongly called to write a message out…call it Monday Motivation if you want or keep on scrolling… I know this message will reach the ones it is supposed to align with.
Let’s talk about the Weight of Self Comparison.
From a tender age, we develop a habit that, while seemingly innocent, carries the potential to shape our self-worth: the act of comparing ourselves to others.
As I recall, my earliest encounters with this ritual trace back when I was just a little girl. As children, we often hear our parents, teachers and other adults praise someone else…our siblings, our friends, our cousins…for something….good grades, artistic talent, athletic abilities…never knowing those words embedded within us a scale upon which we measured our self-worth.
As the years flew by, despite the accolades and achievements adorning our shelves , an overwhelming cloud of inadequacy never ceased to cast its shadow. Each trophy or award was just another marker of someone else doing better, of a parallel universe where we could have achieved more.
The past haunted me for the longest time, not as memories but as roads not taken, opportunities missed. I was constantly trapped, either in the melancholy of the past or in the fantasy of an alternative life.
This relentless oscillation between regret and envy, I eventually discerned, was a battle between two voices within. One was my ego, never satiated, always pointing out the greener grass on the other side, criticizing and comparing. The other, a softer, nurturing voice, spoke of love, acceptance, and affirmation. It whispered of the beauty in every moment, of the serendipity in every choice, urging me to embrace my path with all its imperfections.
Mindfulness, I came to understand, was the key to silencing the relentless chatter of the ego and amplifying the voice of love. It was the balm for the wounds of past regrets and the anxiety of a future unknown. By immersing myself in the present, every moment turned into an opportunity for gratitude, for acceptance, for love.
To others seeking this peace, my humble advice is: Begin with a conscious breath, ground yourself in the sensations of the now, and remember, every second is a gift that once gone, never returns.
For those willing to embark on this transformative journey, I offer a few guiding lights….Dedicate moments each day to solitude, where you connect with your inner self. Practice gratitude, noting the beauty in the mundane. And, most importantly, whenever you find yourself on the precipice of comparison, redirect your thoughts to all that you are, rather than all that you aren’t.
My Moon Tribe 🌙, please remember it's easy to lose oneself in the mirage of comparisons. We've all been there, letting the accomplishments of others dictate our own self-worth, letting external voices drown our inner symphony. But I hope you know in your soul, each one of us is on a unique journey, crafted with individual experiences, dreams, and challenges. Your path, with its twists and turns, highs and lows, is beautiful in its own right. Don't rob yourself of the joy of your own narrative by constantly measuring it against someone else's.
Let me share a secret with you: True fulfillment comes not from endless comparisons but from embracing the present, from cherishing your own journey with all its imperfections. Dive deep into the ocean of self-acceptance, and let the waves of mindfulness wash over you. By grounding yourself in the present moment, you not only find peace but also unleash a power within you that is unparalleled. Let go of the weight of past regrets and the anxiety of what might be, and instead, celebrate the magic of now. After all, your story, written by the choices and chances of life, is a masterpiece waiting to be acknowledged. Embrace it, love it, live it!
I’ll leave you with a quote that rings in my head on days I’m feeling down and out… "Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans." - Allen Saunders
Don’t let your life pass you by because you are too busy comparing it to someone’s else’s. Again…embrace it, love it, live it!
- Candi Spanish Moon 🌙