Comparison: The Death of Joy

Comparison is a trap.

I love how Rachel Hollis, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author of "Girl, Wash Your Face" so frankly says it: 

"What everyone else is doing is... NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS"

In my previous corporate life, I worked with highly creative and driven people in a Public Relations team. I know firsthand, how easy it is to get stuck in the comparison trap. It feels like we are only as good as the last project we delivered, our last creation, or deal we scored. YAH!
In that environment our worth is usually defined by the pat on the back our boss gave us at our last review. 
Looking over the cubicle fence at what our colleagues are achieving… highlights in BIG BOLD RED TEXTA all the things we haven’t been able to succeed at.
Running a business is no different. 
In fact, comparison is deadly because in business you are in direct competition with EVERYONE ELSE, to make your income and to survive! 
As a business owner having your finger on the pulse with what your competitors are doing, and what the market trends are, feels like something we always need to know, right?!
However, spending our time WATCHING what everyone else is doing can often become all consuming.  Next thing you know our eyes are off our own business, as we are too busy trying to “keep up” with everyone else.
Comparison will STUNT your PROFESSIONAL GROWTH in two ways:

1. Self-doubt sets in. You take your eyes off your own work/business and begin to think… “what is going on over there…?  How are they getting all those clients? ALL those opportunities?!  Why are all those great things happening for them … and not for me??”
Have you been there? Anyone who has, will know that - no great achievements come out of this head  space!  Why? Because this frame of thinking moves you into a LACK mindset, stuck in victim-hood focusing on all the things you DON’T HAVE, and you second guess your ability to succeed.

2. You are striving to much to be JUST LIKE the person or the business you are comparing yourself to…. and yet you cannot seem to copy their formula for success. You are pushing and pushing, working hard, and yet….
No matter what you do, nothing is working!
Why is that? Because in reality you are CHASING someone else’s dream - instead of using your own gifts and talents to run your own race! It is not your journey!
When we spend ALL our time looking around at what EVERYONE ELSE is doing there is no time for us to follow our own path.  We end up on a wild ride… most times in the wrong direction.
I see this ALL THE TIME where the comparison trap negatively impacts personal lives too. 
When we compare our life to others, we remove our ability to live in the now AND find gratitude for what we already have.

1. Because we are too busy living in our own head
2. Focusing on what you DON’T have all the time and comparing your situation to someone else’s leaves us in a negative head space
3. It is a road block to being able to attract what you actually WANT in your life

The easiest way to experience JOY is by BEING PRESENT.
Remembering that everyone’s journey is different.  Every person on this planet has a purpose. Your job is to find out what you are here to do - and be amazing at that!
And please, if you see someone doing something GREAT – instead of comparing -think again.... and choose to celebrate their win!
Giving JOY feels just as good as receiving ;)
Finally, if you are in a pattern of comparison right now the first step to break it is to KEEP YOUR BLINKERS ON and run your own race!  Realise that you have a gift and you are meant to share it - in your own personal way.

Today this is your reminder - you have everything you need within you to succeed, stop comparing and find your own joy.