Gift #24. Stop comparing myself to others.

I am learning that I am really good at comparing myself to others and then feeling bad about my life. You can imagine what facebook and social media in general does to me. They are terrible!  Facebook is a place where people share the joys of their lives--babies born, weddings, new amazing job offers, the latest vacation their family went on, the new car purchase, etc.

Though I am happy for my friends and the good things that happen to them, it can be overwhelming when I look at my old 1997 toyota corrola.  Or the fact that we still don't own our own home. Friends often post pictures of how cool their bosses are, and how they party at work all day. I immediately think "I don't have that" and jealousy starts to creep in. With this comes an immediate dissatisfaction with my own life. I start to begrudge my lifestyle, and without intentionally going there, I second-guess the decisions I make. Then I have to intentionally remind myself why we make decisions sometimes that others don't. I literally have to coach myself back into a "happy place".

I remind myself that my husband and I sacrifice things, such as owning a home, so we can travel to visit our inlaws. Last year we spent 5 months in Peru--this would be impossible if we owned our home. I choose not to work full time so I can spend time with my amazing and growing-up-too-fast daughter. This means we can't do all the fun stuff, or have the latest gadgets, others have. So this is what I need to do...I need to stop comparing my life to others, because in reality I only see a part of their lives. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors, I don't what they have in their hearts, or that just before they posted that amazing picture of their boss taking them out for happy hour with 20 of their closest friends, that they were super stressed out about a deadline earlier in the day. Even worse, they probably spend much less time with those they love than I get to. So, instead of comparing myself to you, I am going to be grateful for what I have. And cheer you and your successes on, and not give a damn that they don't happen to me. My life is pretty great too.