As a fledgling writer I read other blogs to get ideas, inspiration, to stay informed, to extend my reading circle, to brush up and expand on my writing style etc. But, so many times it just makes me want to quit. Quit reading, and quit writing. And just slip back into the group of dreamers who quit dreaming, achievers who quit trying. Finish out my days proudly polishing my “status quo.”
When I compare- I see nothing but “not enough”. My life is not interesting enough; my thoughts are not polished enough. I don’t have enough time. I don’t have enough influence. I know that “comparison is the thief of joy” and I know that it’s true, because it’s working.
But then… is it really? Comparing can’t always be bad, can it? When a painter is painting a portrait and he never looked back at the person he’s painting the picture of … would it look much like the person in the end? And what if this person looks at the portrait when it is finished and says “But, This looks nothing like me!” Should the painter say, “Why are you comparing my work with what you see in the mirror! That isn’t fair!!”
If we think about it, God compares us to Christ (perfection) and finds us lacking (duh.) so He fixed it so that we can be like Christ so that when God compares us to Christ He just sees Christ! (Through Jesus’ sacrifice to make us whole in Him).
So, as I look at writing styles and website designs and begin to give up hope I realize- it’s my reaction that is incorrect, not the comparing itself.
When comparison is wrong:
- When we become discouraged and give up.
- When we try to make ourselves another one of “them”
- When we mimic the other person’s brilliance instead of bringing out our own.
- When we criticize, and tear them down because we feel inferior.
- When we hide from it not letting it help us.
- When we let it steal Joy from right now.
When comparison is right:
- When it gives us a solid guide to where we want to be.
- When we can take their examples to help us become better- uses.
- When it gives us the strength to try new things because they are normal, and they survived new things.
- When it makes us realize we need help, and it makes us ask for it.
- When it encourages us to keep on working because it can be done.
It’s inevitable… when you look up to someone further along in your field and compare it to where you are, you are going to find yourself lacking.
Are you homeschooling?
Are you trying to raise children (who are not barbarians)?
Are you trying to create your own music career?
Start up company or ministry?
Or writing career?
Are you trying to love your spouse selflessly?
Trying to repair a car, a house, a relationship?
Or care for your aging parents?
And are you human and do you make mistakes?
Then, there is someone out there doing it better than you.
Go find that person. Ask them questions- pick their brains. Read everything they’ve written, listen to everything they’ve published. Use what you find to make you a few steps further on your journey and fix what’s ailing your progress because there is always fixing to be done, and “The expert in anything was once a beginner.” – Helen Hayes
You decide how you use comparison. Go ahead and compare- and use it as your own constructive criticism. And remember that no one has arrived at perfection, and everyone has their own story.
Image may be NSFW.
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