"Comparison is the Thief of Joy." - Theodore Roosevelt - Enjoy YOUR Journey.

A friend once shared this quote with me which I later learned was from Richard Bach:
“We teach what we most need to learn.”
The things I share on this blog are sprouted from experiences I’ve had and/or lessons I’ve learned or still may be learning. This one, is a daily lesson.
DON’T COMPARE.

In a world where social media is in our faces 24/7 with everyone’s highlight reel of their life and mostly keeping the real deal life stuff private (which they have every right to do); it can be challenging at times.
You don’t see the bad, and the ugly...just the good.
Then, you have most of society telling you how the timeline of your life is supposed to look:
Graduate college, go for master and/or doctorate, find the one and get married, buy a house, have kids, work till sixty…and the societal list goes on and on and on.
Ummmm, NOT QUITE.
I knew from a young age that my life would be taking the road less traveled. It took me some time to understand and adjust to that realization (thanks for a great mom) but, I eventually embraced it...hence “The ABnormal Life.” I totally celebrate the outside-of-the-box way of thinking and living.
HOWEVER! I’d be lying through my teeth if I said this path less taken was a stroll in the park. Nah, it’s more like a triathlon with a plethora of twists, jumps, turns, and leaps…leaps of faith that is :)
And with that, people who decided to take the more common route (and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that) may seem like they have it a bit easier. Then the doubt of your life not going how theirs is begins to seep in.
Now, pay attention…
Once that first “comparison” thought comes, it’s SO easy to go down that rabbit hole of comparison, self-doubt, and regret.
 DON’T DO IT!

We’ve all been there and it’s a dark and unhappy place. Don’t do that to yourself.

Solution:
 Instead, once you feel your mindset going to that “comparison” phase, have a coping method in place to counteract those thoughts.
Here’s my example:
As soon as I feel myself starting to compare, I instantly start repeating my personal affirmations:
I am intelligent
I am beautiful
I am on the right path!
I am walking in my purpose!
And the thing is…I may not even believe what I’m saying at the time! BUT, I’m putting those positive thoughts out into the atmosphere. I’m changing my mindset by saying those things. Let’s not forget the power of the tongue.
I find my affirmations most helpful when I don’t believe what I’m reading. It’s those times when I don’t feel beautiful or intelligent that I have to reiterate that to myself and get my mind back to a positive state.
 
Remember, it’s not about how you start, but how you finish.
 We are imperfect humans and negative thoughts will come, but the biggest test is how we handle it.
Know that you have the power to keep your mind stayed on positivity.
Also remember, this is a daily practice. This isn’t something that happens once and it’s done. You have to keep positive practices like journaling and affirmations in your daily regimen.
 
Continue to enjoy the amazing and unique path that was created JUST FOR YOU.
Be great.
*Now let me go back and read this whole blog to myself!
Xoxo,
Abnormally AB