Comparison is all around us. We compare ourselves to others on social media. We compare our careers, jobs, accomplishments, wealth, we compare our bodies, personalities, intellect and even our own spirituality to what others may have above us or below us. :/
Are you exhausted from just reading that?🤪Comparison truly is the thief of joy. You can feel it as soon as you start to think about who you are comparing yourself to. Comparison is a very human and normal emotion. But the way it feels isn’t nice. What’s important to acknowledge is that comparing will pop up in our minds here and there & whats important is what we decide to do with it.
So, one of the first things we can do, is to be aware of our feelings. Are we currently comparing ourselves with anyone? If you can acknowledge who you are comparing yourself to, just take a moment to ask yourself if this comparison is useful, or if it is helpful to you in any way?
Just know that COMPARISON WILL EITHER MAKE YOU FEEL INFERIOR OR SUPERIOR. & NEITHER ONE OF THOSE FEELINGS HONORS GOD.
Isn’t that so true? When we compare ourselves to others, we pretty much have one or the other emotion. We either feel terrible about ourselves and it spirals downward making us feel like we’re not good at anything etc. Or we experience the other emotion of feeling better than someone else which is the same as being prideful. Also not a good emotion to have. Neither of those honors God or what He would want us to feel. 🙁
God wants us to remember His words when we’re starting to compare ourselves to others. He wants us to remember that He knows each one of us individually. He has a specific and perfect plan for each one of us when He tells us: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. ‘” — Jeremiah 29:11 He has a specific plan for you and He will provide the daily nourishment, provision and blessings that your soul needs.
Being GRATEFUL is actually one of the biggest ways we can fight comparison. God wants us to turn our attention from comparison to instead focus on gratitude. Gratitude for the breath that we have, for the food, shelter, health and all that he provides for us. Counting our blessings, and recognizing the ways in which we have seen the hand of God in our lives will completely help us change that toxic mindset of comparison.
Doctrine & Covenants 78:19 says: And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.
Being grateful is one of the ways that we can show our Father in Heaven that we trust Him. Our grateful attitude will not only bring us Joy but even more blessings from God.
Take a look at the image of the flowers that is added to this message. This is a reminder of how all of us are like flowers. We are all completely different yet beautiful. We all have different lives and are planted and needed in different places. Yet, that doesn’t take away from our value or the importance of being that flower that God created so perfectly for this very moment in time. It’s really up to each one of us to find our beauty in where we’re planted. In where we’re needed, in the way that we look, I’m what we’re blessed to have and to be grateful for where God placed us at this very moment in our lives.
We are all children of God. Created by Him. He is our provider, He hears our prayers and knows the desires of our hearts. He wants us to trust that He will provide the “water, sunlight and soil” that we need to bloom where we are planted. We have to reach toward Him! We have to want to better ourselves and focus on his light and not on comparing ourselves to the flower next to us.
He wants us to focus on blooming where we are planted, on loving ourselves, our lives and trusting God in our circumstances. That way we will see that our lives will be filled with joy. Even if there are weeds trying to bring us down.
The Joy that we experience in our lives will come from stopping that comparison trap and focusing instead on JUST TRUSTING IN A LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN & A SAVIOR WHO GAVE HIS OWN LIFE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH HIM AGAIN. We honor God when we recognize what He would want us to focus on. What He would want us to think and the way in which He would want us to act. We honor God when we let go of negative thoughts or feelings and focus instead on what He can provide for us. We can trust that he has a perfect plan for the “flower” that we’re meant to bloom into. 😉 & also recognizing that the other flowers are also blooming around us. & it is this variety of flowers is what makes the world so beautiful. 🌻🌷🌸🪻
We can choose to LET GO OF THE COMPARISON and instead have GRATITUDE & MORE COMPASSION. Gratitude for our blessings & for where we’re planted. Focused on what we want to accomplish for God in our lives and trusting in the divine strength, help, provision and light that Ge can provide so that we may grow and be more like Him.
Having Compassion also allows us to have more love for ourselves and for others. Sometimes when we see things from the outside, the comparison creeps in making us feel that those people have it all together. But, we forget to remember to also have compassion for others as well.
The reality is that we all have struggles in our lives. And just because someone seems to “have it all together” most of the time that’s not the case. Everyone has their struggles and difficulties. So, we can all practice and exercise a little more more love, compassion and empathy.
Choosing to accept where we’re planted, having peace toward others regardless of our differences. & being able to be happy for other’s successes because we truly can come from a place of feeling at peace with God. With the creator of all of our souls. The true gardener who loves His flowers all the same. 🥹🌸🪻🌻🌷
There’s a beautiful quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland which says: “[God] doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other”
I pray that this message resonates with you. And that you’re able to see yourself as that amazing child of God that you are. Created by Him. Placed in this precise moment by Him. Blessed by Him and fully provided for because of Him. 💖 He is an amazing God who wants you to see yourself as He sees you and for you to love blooming where you’re planted.
So remember, instead of wasting your energy on comparison…Try to stop, be aware of what you’re feeling, recognize if It’s helpful. Focus on gratitude & take a moment to see yourself the way that the Lord sees you. Begin to understand that you have a purpose that no one else can fulfill, and thank God for making you and loving you as one of his amazing & beloved daughter or son of God that you are. He knows the plans for you. You just have to look up to Him and trust in Him.
In fact, there is only one person who we should strive to imitate, and that is Jesus Christ. 💖🥰
Our spiritual goal for the week is to release that comparison and focus more on gratitude, compassion and love for who we are and what we’re blessed to have in our lives today. Truly blooming where we’re planted. 🌸🌻🌷🥰
Our physical goal for the week is to choose one thing that will help our body feel better. It can be walking, or choosing nutritional foods and not junk 😉
I hope that you can make it to class tonight at 7pm!! Our goal is to get rid of stress, strengthen our bodies and have an amazing meditation that will help us to let go of comparison and leave us feeling renewed mentally, physically and spiritually. Can’t wait to see you there!!
Love,
Lili 🌸
