Don't Let Comparison Steal Your Joy

I like to paint rocks, among other things. It is a fun hobby that I have tried to share with friends and family members. Painting relaxes me, and I enjoy giving my finished pieces to loved ones, or hiding them around town for others to stumble upon. 

Today I was working on a rock and shared my progress with a friend. She has recently taken up rock painting and made this comment, "I know I will never be as good as you, but I can get better than I am."

My first thought was "Of course she can be as good as me." It pained me to feel like she was comparing herself to me. Then I thought about it some more. In fact, I have been thinking about it all evening. This particular friend has a fabulous singing voice, and has been professionally trained. In the past, I have been guilty of comparing my voice and skill at singing to hers. I love singing. I have a decent voice, but I have not had the practice, or the training that she has, and I am pretty sure that I have less natural talent for singing. When we first became friends, I let her spectacular voice intimidate me, and I found myself having a difficult time singing out when we sat next to each other at church meetings, or in choir. I eventually overcame that tendency, and last Christmas I even sang with her in a quartet. It's true that I can't match her skill, but it was a beautiful experience, and one of the highlights of my year. I am so glad that I didn't let comparison steal my joy in singing. I may never be as good as her at singing, but I can get better than I am. Her beautiful voice has inspired me to try to be better myself.

We all have our own unique talents and skills. Some of them come naturally, and others take a lot of practice and hard work. We also live in a world where comparison runs rampant. Social media in particular makes it easy to compare ourselves to the very best that others are willing to share. I know that I have often been guilty of becoming discouraged when my efforts can't match up to those of others, and that discouragement sometimes makes me give up on trying something new. I want to change that way of thinking, and instead, let the talents and gifts of others inspire me in my own efforts. There will always be someone that is better at anything I try to do, but that doesn't mean I can't find joy in learning, practicing, and developing new skill.

There are many ways that we compare ourselves to others. I know that I tend to have a really difficult time with my physical appearance, and I feel constantly bombarded with the world's idea of beauty. The same is true of my home, and at times I even find myself comparing the behavior of my children to that of others. Today, I hope that we can just stop comparing, and be thankful for what we have.