Every new year I usually write a long list of things I want to accomplish that year or things I want to improve on. The list usually gets tucked away in my journal and forgotten about after January. This year I wanted to try something different. Lately I have been focusing a lot on my issue of comparison. I have a real problem with comparing myself to other people. I think as women, we tend to do that naturally, but with the help of social media, my problem has gotten worse instead of better. I often feel like I am not pretty enough, my body isn't skinny enough, I'm not spiritual enough, my blogs aren't good enough, we will never have enough money, I'm not talented enough, my house isn't decorated cute enough, blah, blah, blah, so on and so forth.
As I have thought about this demon in my life, I decided what I really wanted to work on in 2014 was learning to be content. Yes, my life might not be as good as someone else's, but it is my life and the only way for me to be truly happy with it, is to learn to love it just the way it is. I heard a quote about comparisons yesterday and I loved it! Someone said, "Does it inspire you or expire you?" What a perfect way to stay in check when comparing myself to others. I don't think comparing myself has ever left me feeling better. Therefore, when I start to do it, I am hoping to remind myself, "Will this inspire me or expire me?"
As a wife and mother of young kids, I never want to look back on these precious years and feel like I wasted so much of my time and energy not feeling good enough. I have a husband and kids who love me just the way that I am. We may not have a fancy house, or even a house of our own yet, and we may not be able to afford vacations or even afford to go out to dinner very often, but we spend so much time making wonderful memories and starting fun traditions. Those are the things that I want to look back on and remember the most.
I have two quotes that are helping me with my resolution to be content. They are hanging in my kitchen where I can see them often and they have been good reminders to me so far this year.
"The secret of being happy is accepting where you are in life and making the most out of everyday."
"Happiness is the result of favorable circumstances. Joy is the outpouring of a contented heart."
This year will bring some big changes for my little family, and my goal is that through it all, I remain content and focus on the blessings that I have and the person the Lord is trying to teach my to become.
