Does anyone else ever feel this way??
"She makes it look easy."
"How does she...? "
"Why can't I...?"
It's so easy to fall into that trap. Comparing yourself to others... wondering why your life doesn't look like theirs... asking how she manages to get ______ done, while you struggle with only ________.
This is so true. Nothing can steal your joy faster than comparing your life to someone else's.
There will always be someone out there who appears to have it better.
And appears is the key word there.
I love blogging.
I love reading blogs.
I love the friends that I have made through blogging.
I love the ideas and inspiration I get from other people's blogs.
But I also see the downside of reading blogs.
I try to keep things pretty real here.
I hope no one ever feels like I am only showing you the highlight reel.
I do show lots of pictures of happy, smiling kids.
But I also try to tell you things like... my goal for the last month has been to get through the mornings without yelling.
And I have been doing really, really well.
But I had to ask Corey to take over more of the responsibility at bedtime. Every night.
I was just done by then and was losing my temper way too much.
So the "no yelling" in the morning was probably just cancelled out by the frustration of bedtime.
He's been doing 90% of the bedtime routine most nights.
And I get to be a happy mommy who gives hugs and kisses and I love you's. And really means it.
I get an online devotional every weekday from Proverbs 31 Ministry. Last summer, they were advertising this book...
A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, “I want what she has,” She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship
I bought it. Read it. And reminded myself that it's not always true. The wife/mom/teacher/woman who makes it look so easy... often has some not-so-easy things going on in her life, too. Appearances can be deceiving.
Thank you, Julie, for letting me share this fun little print! It's perfect. And so true.
None of us have it all together.
Seriously.
I know I don't.
If you don't have it all together... if you struggle with comparing yourself to others... if you have ever found yourself thinking, "How does she....?" or "Why can't I... ?" then leave a comment.
I'll choose one of you at the end of the week and will send you my copy of "She Makes It Look Easy."
It's that easy! =)
34 comments:
I definitely fall into that category! Thanks for keeping it real, you've got one of my favorite blogs for that main reason!
Isn't it so true. We don't always see the real picture. The put-together family may have some real tough times that no one else knows about. The woman who is so beautiful and smiling may be crying inside. How important to keep our eyes on Christ and seek His pleasure and not worry about what people think of you. And to pray God's blessings on those you feel jealous about.
sounds like a good book to read. Even if I didn't know you in person, I would know that there are moments your kids aren't smiling like they do in the pictures. Mine most certainly don't either. But, wouldn't it be fun to take a picture of them making the scowly face so they could see it sometime? HA!
I heard a great message on just this topic. Check it out here-just copy and paste the link- http://www.flinthillschristianchurch.com/classes/2010/10/22/you-follow-me.html There's lots of great messages from th is church. Listen, and be encouraged :)
Had a little pitty this morning over this very thing totally need this!
Blog reading will do it everytime, though then I remember that this line from the song Sing Sister Sing...what doesn't kill you makes you strong.-Meg
I'm really hooked on reading "brags"...that's my term for most blogs. I gave up reading them 2 days a week for lent. Wish I had the guts to give them up for good.
Wow...so true...every day I question myself and often wonder how come my house is never clean yet it seems like everyone else's is and they have more kids than me! I struggle daily with trying to get it all done and the sense of accomplishment at the end of the work day and home life day continues to dwindle...maybe my vacation on March 30th is coming fast enough? Hah! Have a blessed week and thanks for the chance to win!
sorry...should have been "isn't!" LOL!
Yep, I agree....comparison happens all of the time, and it's a dangerous trap that I've fallen into. I haven't fallen into it with blogs as much as I have with Facebook -- which is why I've had to take "breaks" occasionally.
thank you for these words! we need to be reminded of this OFTEN!
i would love to read that book!
it's nice to know after all this yrs other don't have it together like i sorta of been thinking. went i think i do something always happens to ruin my togetherness :)
I am guilty of reading blogs and then thinking I am not as good of a mom as a lot of them...Its very hard not to compare yourself to others. Facebook is the same way, people trying to make thing seems wonderful or terrible..
the devil loves to complicate our lives with this very issue. It's taken me a long time to get past a lot of that, and sometimes I believe the liar. When those thoughts surface I try to say "God made me this way. He loves me as I am. "
I've noticed my blog reading changed in the past year too. I read more about people's life stories, inspirational blogs, vrs. home improvement, etc. I find myself being encouraged by the fact there ARE so many lovers of Jesus all over the world, strangers willing to pray for each other. Makes us more like the family of God.
Happy Spring Amy.
Comparing myself with others has gotten me into a lot of trouble. I have to fight hard to keep from being consumed with what others think of me. I would LOVE to read this book! :) Thanks for a great blog and always being so real!
That is the truth. We should be grateful for what we have but sometimes fall into this trap. Sounds like a great read. Thank you.
That sounds like a great book! I know I've looked at blogs and thought, why can't I do that?? I just need to remind myself to be happy with what I'm able to do. :0) thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for the reminder. I would love to read this book!
Angie
Great reminder! I will definately check this book out whether I win or not:)
One of my favorite pinterest quotes is the "highlight reel" quote. So true! The book sounds eye opening and motivational. Love you, my sweet, open, honest and wonerful real-life friend!
Thanks for the reminder!
I would leave this commnent even if you did not have a "giveaway." I feel like this post was written for me. I have been really struggling with feeling like I am failing at everything I am doing. I look around and wonder how everyone else seems to be doing it and I can't. The truth is that someone is looking at me and probably thinking the same thing. They don't know that I spent Sunday night locked in my closet crying. How is that for the truth. Thanks for being real my dear sweet friend.
I think everyone struggles with this to some degree..... I would love to read the book!
Paige
pnarrell@gmail.com
I JUST posted the quotation about everyone else's highlight reel as my facebook status last week! I definitely feel this way, too. But I will also say that I have been floored the couple of times when someone has admitted that they think this way about... wait for it... ME?!
Seriously - it's amazing to think that sometimes you're the one who appears to have it all together. Yes, even YOU, Amy! :)
No matter what season of life, this is an issue-- maybe more for women? I just know when my kids were younger, I always felt like there was someplace else or something else I should be doing. I wish I had said "No" more often to outside things.
I would like to read this book...
Liz M
Haha, when I first started blogging, I only read one other blog (PW), which morphed into about three blogs, and then...well, more and more. I have a love/hate relationship with some of them. I think,"Seriously? I can't even get up some mornings and this person is [blah, blah, blah] and a great writer, too!" :) That Roosevelt quote is good. So true. Thanks for sharing these words, and the book. Have a great week, Amy!
I just read that and thought, "That's so me!" I always think everyone in the blogging world has it all together. What a great giveaway! I might just pick up a copy anyway!
Thanks!
The very few bloggers I keep up with are all women who keep it real - yourself (obviously) included. And yet I still sit there, read them and think, "How in the world do they have time to take the pics, upload them and then talk about them?" Somedays I feel like I spend all day just feeding my kids, cleaning up after my kids and trying to do a little laundry before it all reproduces and quadruples in size. Sounds like a good book, and I would love to read it. If I am not the winner, I'll have to check the library.
so true Amy - I have been discussing this very thing with Russ over the last couple weeks. It is wonderful to have a husband who helps put things in perspective for you. I know, I get too wrapped in things emotionally at times and he helps bring it all back down. I know I will read the book whether I win it or not.
So true! I have very strong feelings about this topic, and how honesty is important for BOTH sides of the coin. This looks like a great book for every woman to read.
Love this Amy. This is so true. I know that I fall into that trap too sometimes and God gets a hold of my heart and tells me that I am good enough just doing what I can do. It is so nice to hear that we women are not alone in that struggle and we can depend on each other to share in this struggle. I am very interested in this book. Can you get it from a Christian bookstore or Amazon or somewhere? Great to catch up on your family.
Awesome. Love it. Thank you for sharing your heart. It's so hard to not compare, especially as women (and mothers). Ugh.....Satan really knows how to makes us feel inadequate.
Blogs and FB just give us a TINY snapshot at what life is like. Thanks for keeping it real!!!!
I have been tossing similar thoughts around in my head for weeks now. How can I become a better mother is the root of my thoughts? I thought perhaps I needed to completely unplug from the computer and stop my blog all together but I quickly realized that was something I enjoyed and I shouldn't deprive myself of that. What I need is to not feel the pressure I put on myself to make my blog something that it's not. I don't do this for a living, so it's okay if I don't post every day. It's okay if my pictures aren't as perfect as "x" blogger. I may not be as funny as "her" but I can be me. So again, you're timing was perfect with your post. It's something I struggle with often, not so much wanting to be someone else, just wanting more out of myself. I'd love to read that book to see what nuggets of wisdom are in it! Thanks!
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