Thursday, October 6, 2011

Comparison is the Thief of Joy!

I read these words the other day on Pinterest. They struck a nerve. I do it all the time. Compare myself. I compare myself to other photographers. Their pictures. Their websites. Their studios. Their skill.

I compare myself to other cooks. I compare myself to other runners. I compare myself to musicians (of which I am not). I compare myself to artists (of which I am not). I compare myself to crafters (of which I am not that either).

I even compare myself to you. Yep. You! If I read your blog I compare our writing styles, our families, our husbands, our children. It's craziness. I know. God has so richly blessed me with a wonderful husband, family, home, job, friends, and so much more.

Maybe if. What if. Why don't I? How do they? If only. Why can't I? I have a tendency to focus on my flaws. Not the talents or the gifts that God has so richly blessed me with. Am I the only one who does this?

No one would ever guess that I do this. Not you. Not my family. Not my IRL friends.

It's grueling. It's self-defeating. It wastes time. Precious, precious time.

I am exhausted from wasting so much precious time. I want focus on the positive and not on the negative. I want to share the talents and gifts that God has blessed me with. Share them in a way that is as unique as me. Show others their beauty through the lens. Show them that there is joy in the every day small moments. Today, This Day! I want to Choose Joy! Wise words from a wise woman. Sara Frankl. Sara could have easily allowed her confinement and disease to steal her joy. Yet, she made a choice every single day to not let comparison steal joy from her.

How can I do less? How can I choose to ignore Sara's words? By no longer allowing the thief comparison to steal my joy. Sara has gone home to be with the Lord. She continues to teach me. Thank you, Sara for Choosing Joy!

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Isaiah 26:4 (NKJV) 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

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