A friend once remarked to me that a woman’s favorite indoor sport is comparing herself to others.
I couldn’t agree more.
I don’t know what it is about our need to compare ourselves to others, especially other women.
But in 2011 I’m not going to do it.
Next in my list of 31 Ways to Give Your New Year a Fresh Start is—
8. Stop comparing yourself to others.
I’ve been studying business-savvy women lately, and this theme has actually come up in their talks. One point, in particular, really resonated with me.
It dishonors your Creator to think less of yourself because you don’t “measure up” to another person. God made you unique for specific reasons and specific purposes. It’s God-honoring to drop the comparisons and instead focus your energy on God’s design for you and your gifts.
Do you struggle with this temptation? What helps you overcome it?
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Important Reminders
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I confess! If everyone was introspective and honest with themselves, they’d confess too. “No temptation has seized you except what is COMMON to man.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
I became so overwhelmed with the many resources available to help us in our Christian walk until God led me to Chip Ingram’s book Good to Great in God’s Eyes. In one chapter he writes “Comparison is at the core of carnality. When I compare my gifts with someone else’s, there are only two places to go: inferiority or superiority. I either become envious or arrogant.” SMACK! Busted…this truth made me confess to God and ask Him to help me see the good in others and encourage them by telling them; building them up. This takes the focus off of me. I was too focused on myself; either how ‘good’ I was doing or how I wasn’t measuring up. I’m still a work in progress, as we all are. But with God, everything is possible.
By the way, after reading MANY books on Spiritual growth, I’ve found this one to be the treasure among the common. I like simplicity; fewer resources with concentrated impact. This one measures up.
So well said, Jodie. I’ll have to check out that book. I have heard of Chip Ingram before (and heard him on the radio, I believe), but I haven’t read his books. Thanks!
I agree that we should not compare ourselves to others, but the reality is, others compare us to others (am I making sense?) and so we do it also. We should reduce this tendency as much as possible, but when those outside of ourselves are doing it, it is impossible to completely stop. Your thoughts on this?
Hi, Janet. Thanks for chiming in. I hear you. I will say that the more I “work on” accepting myself and who God made me to be, the less I care about others. But you are right; it’s almost impossible to completely stop. It’s all a process.