The feeling of inadequacy has the ability to stall the greatest of dreams, and with consistent media messages that say you are not good enough unless you buy the latest gadget, wear the latest designs or follow the next best diet plan, it is easy to see how feeling inadequate can become a part of our lives.
Inadequacy is rooted in comparison and comparison is now a global game, to the extent that we don’t even compare ourselves to the folk next door anymore, and with the upsurge in reality tv and social media info that say you are not good enough unless you buy the latest gadget, been on that holiday or follow the next best diet plan, it is easy to see how comparison becomes a fixed part of our lives.
One of the biggest problems with keeping up with the Jones’s is that they are trying to keep up with the smiths, and the smiths are probably lost, so the comparison trap is a reality.
Comparison can cause you to lack faith in your own ability, it can cause the fear of failure, the fear of what others might say, which then leads on to being self fulfilling prophecy.
What makes life brilliant is observing and learning from others so instead of trying to be as good as or better than others, focus your energy on being the very best version of yourself. Benchmarking is valuable personally and professionally, but it is most valuable for learning, not comparison, so the next time you catch yourself doing this, ask yourself, am I learning, or am I comparing, because there is a difference.
There is a wonderful quote that says why be a second rate version of someone else when you could be a first rate version of yourself. There is always going to be someone taller, smarter, thinner, or richer than you. Trying to get to the top of that is a losing game, and physically impossible.
I know you have heard this before, but there is only one of you you are unique, as are your experiences, and that makes you valuable.
Be the best version of yourself you can be, because no matter how hard you try, you can’t be anyone else.
