ANECDOTE
My friend Maggie told me, “At an annual convention, everyone went around the lunch table introducing themselves. It quickly turned into a brag-fest. This person had just been on Oprah, that one got a six-figure book deal.
I found myself shrinking in my chair, feeling smaller and smaller as everyone shared their highlight reel. I was happy with my career until I heard what everyone else was doing!
After lunch, I snuck back to my room and was going to skip the afternoon sessions. Then my eyes fell on a photo of my husband and son. Just seeing their faces reminded me how good my life is, just the way it is.
I slipped their photo in the back of my plastic name badge. The rest of the event, anytime someone carried on about where they’d just been or what they’d just done, I would peek at that photo and it would instantly re-center me in how I’m already wealthy in what matters.”
If you sometimes feel your life is like a see-saw, you may be depending on other people for your ups and downs. Jump off the jealousy see-saw. Spring free from the comparison trap.
Turn ENVY into ENOUGH by focusing on what you’ve GOT vs. what you’ve NOT.
ACTION
Next time you catch yourself comparing yourself to others, stop and use this AAA technique…
ADMIRE – Identify what you like about the person/place/thing and turn it from a criticism of you to a compliment to them.
For example: If you go to the gym and compare your body – you may want to run home into a pint of ice cream… Instead try interrupting the thought and changing it into admiration, “Good for them for being in great shape!”ASPIRE – Ask how can you have more of this in your life?
i.e. “How can I get back in shape?” (hint, it’s not the ice cream route.)APPRECIATE – Give yourself props for catching the negative thought and releasing it before it stole your joy.
i.e. Thanks to that shift in my mindset, I got a great workout and feel happier and healthier.
Until next time… Here’s to being better.
Sam Horn