… I don’t know about you but that’s definitely what I need to tell myself sometimes!
I was having one of these days that started great but then self doubt crept in because I saw how amazingly well all these blogs are doing that I’ve been reading and their number of followers just seems to double every month!! And then of course I started to think: what am I doing wrong? Is my writing not good enough? How come I don’t have 2000 followers on Instagram yet?
This is just an example of course and especially if you’re a women (men just generally seem to be more confident and not care so much what other guys do… correct me if I’m wrong!) you might find these feelings of insecurity creeping in sometimes. And of course usually insecurity leads to feelings of envy and jealousy that are not very yogic at all!
I find that especially another woman who just seems to have it all, perfect figure, perfect hair, perfect house, perfect children, amazingly successful career etc just seems to have this effect on me that makes me feel slightly irritated! So why is it that it makes me feel bad when others are doing well? If I think about it I am actually really happy for those people who do so well but of course I can’t help but to compare myself.
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who feels like that sometimes and I think we tend to compare ourselves all the time without being aware of it. In my yoga classes I see people looking around how other people look and what they can or can’t do. I’m sure I do it too but much less so nowadays because I’ve realised that it really doesn’t matter!
Nobody has the same body shape, bones etc like me and what we forget is how people got to the class. Maybe their background is dancing, maybe they practice every single day, maybe they were born extremely flexible. Maybe they are recovering from an injury, maybe they just had a baby – whatever it is everyone brings something different to a class so how can you compare yourself?
Yes ok so this person can do the splits or do amazing backbends. They have probably worked really hard to be able to do this or they are one of these naturally extremely bendy people (really irritating!). Whatever it is it has nothing to do with you or me! We are where we are because that’s where life has taken us to and that’s where we should be. And it’s ok! Would it really make us any happier if we could do a perfect handstands or the splits?
And that’s of course the same thing outside of the class. Yes there are lots and lots of people who do everything I do a million times better. They have probably worked really hard on this particular thing, maybe they have had more help, maybe they have had more experience… At the same time there are lots of people that can’t or don’t do what I do and it really doesn’t matter!
What I have realised is nobody has got the experience that I have, nobody is me and I am where I am supposed to be right at this moment.
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Stop Comparing Yourself, great words of advice but almost impossible to follow for me and many others like me, I tell myself all the time to not worry about others and then I’m back to wondering why others are doing so much better or gaining followers etc. sadly it is a mindset that many of us have and find difficult to get out of. Oh and I’m a man it’s not just women.
Hi Ashley, yes definitely very difficult!! And we all do it of course!
So very true! Aren’t Yoga (and Pilates!) classes amazing for showing just how much diversity there is in the human body? It’s so hard not to compare but like you I’m trying ! Great post #effitfriday
Thank you Jen! There is definitely so much diversity in the human body and I’m glad you can relate to what I wrote 🙂
Such wise words, I love this post. I’m so guilty of not following this advice. Nathan’s for linking with #effitfriday
Christine you are doing mazing so don’t put your self down lovely lady, I am not a comparer, but I can understand why people do, we are all so different and thats what I love about blogging, your blog is interesting and unique that is something to be so proud of x
Thank you so much! That means a lot to me! Yes we are all different and all have our niche… I never thought that blogging would be so addictive 😉 x
Great article. It’s so hard to stop doing this but I think if you are aware you can turn your thoughts around to thinking about yourself and what you are good at rather than comparing yourself and worrying about things in a negative way. Everyone is different and that’s they way it should be.
Sally @ Life Loving
Thanks Sally. Yes I think awareness is the most important part to turn things around whatever the problem might be. Life is too to let jealousy and negativity take over!
Guilty! I am terrible at comparing myself to others and looking at others through rose tinted glasses while I beat myself up. So silly isn’t it? I bet there are people out there who are just as jealous of us! #brilliantblogposts
Ha, that’s a great way to see it!
Nice post. I know what you mean. But like you said. There’s no use in comparing yourself. I”ll try to remember that next time I feel the urge to think about everything other people can do and I can’t (so much).
Love this, such an empowering read. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts