Are you in the habit of playing the comparison game?
While browsing your social media feeds you might be tempted to imagine the fabulous lives everyone around you must be leading in comparison to yours.
Have you ever found yourself at a happy hour or celebration with a person you only see once or twice a year, or with someone who might be a wonderful new friend?
What happens when that person dominates the conversation by talking about her amazing vacations, perfect job, or her accomplished children? How does that make you feel?
It's easy to fall into the trap of comparison...to start ruminating on the inferiority of what you were doing while she was basking in the sun or visiting Ivy League colleges on parents' weekend.
How you see the world matters. Are you really interested in leading that person's life? Isn't yours full of amazing people and opportunities even if it doesn't, in your eyes, seem to shimmer and shine on Instagram?
Agapi Stassinopoulos, best-selling author and inspiring speaker, says:
“If we can focus ourselves on becoming the best we can be, rather than trying to be better than others, we will have no reason to compare.”
Here's a tip...The next time you're starting to feel green with envy, reframe your conversation into a journey of gratitude. Ask the person you're speaking with what and whom they're most grateful for at this moment. Share your thoughts as well.
This exercise might reveal hidden insights about that person that can stop comparison addiction in its tracks!
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