In Everything, Give Thanks

Comparison. I think all of us are probably guilty of doing this. Maybe only once in a while, or maybe it’s a constant struggle. It can be hard to resist the temptation to compare yourself or your life with others, even though it isn’t healthy for you. There seems to always be something. Someone else always has something bigger or better than you… There’s always going to be someone you think is prettier than you, has a better job than you, lives a more interesting and fun life than you… But the truth is, everyone is dealing with their own personal struggles -even the people you think have it all together. And there are probably people comparing themselves to you. And on top of all that, not being content is something we’re told not to do in God’s Word. So what can we do to quit comparing ourselves to others and start being content with our lives?

I think the biggest thing we can do to stop comparing ourselves to others is to be grateful for what we have. To count our blessings. To acknowledge what God has done in our lives. It will take effort, but it’s possible. When you start wishing you had what someone else has- a bigger house, a significant other, experiences of traveling abroad- try to remember what you do have, and appreciate it, and be thankful it’s not something worse. If you have a roof over your head, you can be thankful you’re not living on the streets. If you’re still single, you can be glad you haven’t ended up like the other failing couples around you that have already split or are living in sin together. If you’re stuck at home with no money or time to travel, you can be thankful for time spent with loved ones and for the small things in life that bring you happiness.

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Thankfully, comparison hasn’t been one of my bigger struggles, but there are times I do compare my life to my friends’. Sometimes I feel like I’m not as mature or talented as a friend, or that their lives are much more interesting than mine, or that they’re more likable or successful than me. And whether or not those things are true, I don’t need to be comparing myself to anyone. I am unique and have my own special gifts, talents, and abilities. I try to remind myself of those things when I’m down on myself, and it can help lift my spirits. So keep in mind what you’re good at and what you like about yourself, and what makes you you! And be happy for your friends and cheer them on! Jealousy can ruin friendships.

For many people, social media is what gets them. I’m very thankful that this hasn’t been a struggle for me, but I know that it affects others greatly. Your “friends” post these great photos of their “great” lives of themselves doing these fun, awesome things for the world (or more specifically, you) to see. It’s fun to take photos of the cool things you do and share them online for your friends to see, and I think it’s ok to do that sometimes, but it can be hard not to compare your life with your friends’ when you see all the good stuff they edit, filter, and post. Maybe you see these photos of a luxurious trip to the beach, but what you can’t see is how sick the person in them is feeling. Maybe it looks like they’re having the time of their lives, but they actually are under the weather and they didn’t mention that in their post. Or maybe you see a relative who just got a brand-new car, but what you don’t see is that they’re drowning in debt. Are you getting the picture? (Pun not intended.) Anyone can post anything they want online, but absolutely no one is living a perfect life. Maybe they had the perfect day, or weekend, or are simply in a really good season of life, but no one’s life is all sunshine and rainbows. Instead of wishing you were experiencing what that person on the internet is experiencing, maybe you could like their post, be happy for them, and get on with your own life. If it’s too hard for you to quit comparing yourself to people online, maybe take some steps to get away from social media for a while. Setting some small goals, like limiting your daily screen time, may prove to be beneficial for your mental health. (-:

Well, I suppose I’ll wrap this one up. I hope you found some encouragement in this! Don’t be afraid to be yourself, and remember to practice gratitude!