This is Not the Time to Give Up! – Comparing Ourselves
The message is simply this: This is not the time to give up! So much is against us every day that it almost takes superhuman strength to remain in the struggle. Actually, it does. For today, instead of giving in, I encourage you to stay in the game and say, “I will press forward!”
I so get it. Believe me, I do. Yeah, I thrive to push and exhort others toward their potential but there are times when I just want to say forget it. Life is just too hard and it feels like there is a personal plot against me at times to make my life a living hell. It’s not fair. Most times our frustrations about our situation come from looking at other people’s lives and comparing them. Sometimes I look at other people’s lives and it seems as though life is so easy for them. I really don’t care about the little boohoos of the rich and famous or if a celebrity is having a breakup with their boyfriend. Their life seems a breeze in comparison. Then reality hits me and I think, “Money or not, I have no clue what another person’s life is like….wouldn’t mind trying it out for a second, but still don’t know what it’s like.”
The point is that I only think my life is unfair or wrong when I compare my journey to another person’s life and believe that my life is supposed to be like theirs. Hate it or appreciate it, my life is what my life is and can only be directed by the choices I make. To spend time trying to adjust my life to resemble someone else is to say my life has no worth. We often say we don’t envy other people’s lives but we compare ourselves and sell ourselves short because of it on a daily basis.Â
We believe things like…because I’m not John Grisham selling millions of books on the best seller’s list somehow I’m not an impacting writer… because I’m not living in a big house and driving a big expensive car I’m not a successful person…because I aim to be a Godly housewife, mother (father), teacher, office worker, grandparent, business person, etc. instead of being famous or rich, I’m not accomplishing great things… because my business is not making billions like Bill Gates or helping people internationally my work isn’t as important…because of the obstacles, tragedies, past, currents situations, fears, doubts, and seemingly impossibilities in my life my dreams aren’t important or obtainable like they are for other people. All those beliefs are lies! Every single one of them.
This is not the time to give up but to get mad, to get pushed, and to get up. Each time you compare yourself to someone else, somebody loses. Most times, depending on our state of mind, it is us. In any case, nobody wins. I have a belief that what is for me is for me. Paris Hilton, Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey, nor Max Lucado could ever possess anything that was meant for me so there is no reason for me to try to compete or compare myself to them. They have their unique story, journeys, and purposes and I have mine. Nobody can possess another person’s story, journey, or purpose, NOBODY no matter how similar it might seem.
The same is true for you. I encourage you to not use your time looking at others and how you can mold your story and dream to theirs but to explore what you have been placed on this earth to pursue, dream, and live out that nobody else can do. Once you begin to understand that you were meant to dream, you will begin to push yourself even during those times when you want to give up.
On man, it gets so rough. But I know you can do this. Please don’t let doubt tell you that you are not good enough to follow the dream that has been placed in you to live out. Please don’t let fear convince you that the road is too scary and that you are too big of a coward to look possible failures and mistakes in the face and get up again. Are you not more powerful than a little failure or rejection, please? Please, don’t let others fill your head with their own non-belief or lack of creativity. They will be the ones asking if it is safe to come over once you have paved the way. You can do this. Trust what you know, not what you feel. Let’s push forward together. You are not alone in your journey, I promise.
Charlotte
Dream Madly, Pursue Wildly, Trust Completely
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