Real talk! How many times do you fall into the comparison trap? For me, it is unfortunately more often that not. In our current reality it is so easy to compare ourselves to each other because of social media and how heavily we use it as a society. I’m not one to totally bash social media, but I believe that if we don’t set boundaries it can become detrimental to our mental health. I love social media, specifically Instagram, as a way to stay connected to other people as well as helping encourage or inspire others. But on the flip side instagram also hasn’t served me due to falling into the comparison trap. Whether that is comparing myself in the way I look, how my life is compared to someone else’s highlight reels, or even wanting my life to be like someone else’s instead of trusting in God’s plan for my life. In this blog I am going to walk you through ways that have helped me combat comparison in my own life.
- Reading Scripture & Listening to Worship Music
Both of these actions help remind me who I am in Jesus and what Jesus offers us as believers. Scripture is the inspired word of God and it gives us direction and life through the power of the Holy Spirit. I love this verse in Proverbs 4, “My son, pay attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. They are not to escape from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And healing to all their body.” I don’t know about you but after I spend too much time on social media I often leave feeling discouraged, sometimes without being aware of it, and it can impact how I go about the rest of my day. But I love how in the verse above Solomon states that the word of God gives us life and brings healing to our whole body! What an amazing truth. And I can truly testify this being true for myself. I have noticed at times that after being on social media I feel the exact opposite of filled up, rather I feel more empty.
- Live From a Place of Gratitude
This way of living truly makes such a difference in my day. There are days that I live this out and feel so at ease and filled, but because I am human and easily get distracted there are often days that I forget. One of my favorite bible verses of all time is Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Paul is stating that when we thank God for everything in our lives we will receive God’s peace. And that it is God’s peace that will guard our hearts and mind. This scripture goes perfectly with the chapter in Proverbs I stated above. The next verse in Proverbs which follows the one above is, “Guard your hearts above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” So how do we guard our heart and receive peace that we are all in desperate need of? By thanking God daily for Him and all He has given us. I know this seems very simple. Even simple enough to the point where it seems too good to be true. But I encourage you to try this out the next time you are comparing yourself or your life to someone else’s. List out all of the current or past things you are grateful for and take note to how your mind and body shifts from feeling heavy and dead to more fulfilled.
- Setting Boundaries
This tip is so much easier said than done. It is so easy to desire to consume other people’s lives rather than live out our own. I am so guilty of this! I am not exactly sure why we do this, but I feel like part of the reason is because we are looking to be more filled than what our current circumstances are giving us. And since Instagram is easy to access, it becomes addicting to scroll through other people’s lives when we need a “pick me up.” In our culture I feel that many people view boundaries as a bad thing. However quite the contrary. Boundaries are set to protect us. So how can this look when you are setting boundaries for social media? It could be setting only a certain amount time a day designated to social media. It could be not going on social media until after work or lunch time. It could be so many things. It may take some time to figure out what works best for you, but once you find it stick with it. Even ask people closest to you to keep you accountable. I know this may seem crazy or not that big of deal to some people. But this step is so crucial to help you not fall back into old patterns that you don’t want to live out anymore.
I pray that these tips help you overcome comparison that can so easily rule in your mind and heart. I encourage you to try these out, even if you take one tip at a time, and closely pay attention to how you feel and watch yourself become more productive in your days. You will see yourself be more engaged with the people in front of you, be more committed to your goals, and overall feel more present and fulfilled in your life! No longer will you need to look to your right or your left trying to live someone else’s life, but you will be filled and content with the life God has given you.
-Shara