The Comparison Game

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

I’m stuck in the comparison game. Have you ever played? It’s almost addicting, you can’t stop playing, you want to stop, yet it’s nearly impossible.

Comparing is one of my downfalls. I compare far too often and I compare myself, my successes, my failures, my personality, my feats and my struggles. I compare to other people, I compare myself physically, mentally, spiritually, the list goes on. Comparison comes in many shapes and sizes. Its not a “one size fits all” type of thing.

As I’ve gotten into the world of blogging, I have been absolutely loving it, but I have been comparing myself to others too much. I compare my Instagram numbers to other bloggers. I compare my word count to others. I compare my content to others. I compare my pictures to others. I compare my editing styles to others. In the my midst of comparison, I forget the sole reason I started blogging. I forget what this blog has brought me, how I’ve grown through and with it.

I started Sweetly Sally out of sheer boredom and for a way to write my thoughts down. It was never my intent for others to read this blog. I started this blog for me, so that I could have somewhere to document memories, thoughts, travels, opinions.

I didn’t start this blog to be the next Lonestar Southern or Caitlin Covington. I didn’t start this blog to prove that I’m the best writer, the prettiest girl, the smartest person, or the most creative creator.

I started this blog realizing that I’m fully human. I make mistakes. I’m not perfect. I will never be the most fashionable. I will never be the best writer. I will never be the most famous blogger. I will never be the prettiest. I will never be the smartest. I will never have the best blog. That’s just a fact.

Although I may never be the best, I know that I am enough. My blog is enough to make me happy. If my blog gets one page view today, or if it gets 100,000 page views today, it’s still good.

I often lose sight of my intentions behind my blog and I get stuck comparing myself to others. It’s a sick and twisted game, one that you can never win.

A commonly known quote is, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I have been too busy trying to be the best by following the “right steps,” by envying others blogs, by wishing mine was something more, that the joy has been covered and buried.

I absolutely LOVE blogging with all of my heart. If I could do this for the rest of my life, I would be one happy girl. Making this blog is one of the two best decisions I’ve ever made (The other best decision would be choosing to go to Samford.). This blog holds countless memories, a mix of emotions, innumerable thoughts, powerful words, and stories that I never want to forget. This blog is so special to me because it is what I’ve made it to be. This blog IS me and I’m incredibly proud of this little thing I created.

I’ve made friends, I’ve opened doors to a whole new world, I’ve found a true hobby. I never want to stop and I always want to blog.

I don’t know where this blog will go in the future. I don’t know if it’ll ever be well known or if it will settle in the dust. No matter what happens, I am thankful and glad. I am thankful and so grateful, I could cry over this.

This blog has saved me when I felt lonely. This blog has rescued me when I needed to spill my words. This blog has boosted my self confidence. This blog has truly helped  me become a better me, the person I am today.

Want to know the trick to opting out of the comparison game? Just stop. Realize where you came from. Remember what you’re worth. You are worth more than what the enemy is telling you. You are loved more than you know. Comparison covers up the things that are important in your life. Comparison is a lie that tells you that you aren’t enough. Comparison tells you that you will never be enough. Comparison tells you to stop trying, or to try harder because you can’t do it.

You are more than that. You are more than comparison.

Go out and live your life. Live it to the fullest because you don’t want to look back and realize that instead of having joy, you were too busy comparing yourself to others. You are MORE than comparison. Rise above those lies and live the treasured life that you have.