The best things in life are internal and not external….
I saw this quote and I just thought, yes very true
But we live in a world and amidst many, that might not agree with me on this, but then again it's not about who is right or whatnot.
First off, comparison by its dictionary meaning does not connote a bad thing.
Nations compare themselves, rulers compare themselves, there's a comparison on different levels.
But the act as it relates to humans and our hearts and others is where the danger lies, and this silent disease is eating away at many and has probably even ended the lives of many.
In 1 cor 4 vs 7 it clearly talks about comparison being the thief of joy.
Many people right now lack Joy in their lives, and the root of this problem, that many have but haven't even had the time to sit still enough to find out why and what is comparison (social comparison)
So I had a colleague at work one time, who was so efficient at all he does and very fast and he just seemed to know stuff about whatever he is being asked.
I envied him and all day long sat and compared myself to him, now what this birthed in me was a fit of silent anger and envy that this guy just came on board and all the things that I was working on were given to him and I complained in my heart all day long and I just gave funny attitudes.
Then one day, I sat down and asked myself what exactly are you angry about? Have you thought for once that you could learn a lot from this colleague?
And immediately I thought that my feelings toward this colleague changed. Now while I was busy feeling envious and comparing myself, I was busy making more mistakes at work, it felt like I couldn't do anything else right.
But the moment I had what I call the ‘EYE OPENING MOMENT' all that anger went away and instead was replaced with a willingness to learn and know and do new things.
So I approached my colleague at work and I found out, it wasn't that he knew it all, he just had an open mind to learn things and went all out to learn new stuff.
And I decided right then and there to pick off that energy of open-mindedness from him. Before long we became a team, where he relied on me to cover for him and he also covered for me.
Moral of the story: we all at different points in our lives battle with this silent thief that remains hidden, and has stolen our joy, relationships that could have been beneficial and so much more that we never know or will know about. You need to identify the patterns of this silent thief and then expose it and this will require a great level of vulnerability and honesty.
How to identify the patterns of this thief?
1. Ask yourself what you are feeling?
2. Why are you feeling the way you do?
3. Trace your thought process up until that moment.
4. Track what you have fed your mind and eyes (sense gates)
5. Acknowledge what you feel and then make a decision.
After identifying this ‘thief', repent, and then seek ways to restore your joy back.
Watch out for my next blog on KEEP YOUR JOY to know what to do and how to sustain your joy so that comparison doesn't steal it from you and steal so much more from you.
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