Are You Always Comparing Yourself to Other People?

Steven Furtick said, “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.”

When you are working on reprogramming the way you think about failure and rejection, maintaining and improving your confidence and self-esteem is part of the journey. Nothing can destroy your confidence quicker than comparing yourself to others. Here’s a great example:

Bob and Frank went car shopping; Bob bought a Mercedes limousine, and Frank went with a Cadillac limousine. A few days later they pulled up to an intersection, side by side. Each man rolled down his window.

“Nice car,” Bob said to Frank, “but is it loaded?”

“Yeah, it’s loaded!” Frank boasted in return.

“Got a phone?” Bob asked.

“Of course.” responded Frank.

“Got a TV?” Bob inquired.

“Yep, got a TV, too!” Frank beamed.

“That’s nice. Got a bed?” Bob asked with a smile.

“You’ve got a bed in there?!” Frank gasped in disbelief.

Bob said, “Oh, yeah. It’s great!” And he drove off.

Livid, Frank drove straight to the dealership and demanded they put a bed in. A week later Frank saw Bob’s limo parked by the side of the road, hazard lights flashing.  He pulled up behind him, parked, and walked to the side of Bob’s limo. He knocked on the window.  But there was no answer. So he knocked again, louder this time.

Finally, Bob appeared, rolled down the window, and shouted, “What? What do you want?!”  Frank said, “I just wanted to tell you that now I’ve got a bed in my limo, too!” Bob paused then said, “You pulled me out of the shower to tell me that?!”

Comparison with others can not only make you feel inadequate, it takes your eye off of the real endeavor: becoming the best person you can be.

As George Bernard Shaw said, Life isn’t about finding yourself… (and you certainly won’t find yourself while focusing on other people)… it’s about creating yourself.

Comments? Please let me know your thoughts. And if you liked this post, please share! – AW