Wake Up To The Joy of Not Comparing Yourself — We are all unique individuals and have our own life path.

Mark Twain famously wrote, “Comparison is the death of joy.” We’re constantly told that we should all stop comparing ourselves to others. Sounds great in theory, but how can we do that?

Social comparison has gotten a bad rap. The truth is, comparison is a natural human tendency. It’s one of the ways that we measure ourselves; we try to get a sense of how we are doing against how others are doing. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it all depends on how we relate to it. In fact, comparison and jealousy can show you areas where you need to start fully participating in your own life. After all, when you are aligned with your own path and focused on your own life, you no longer look left and right, or second guess yourself.

But most of us use comparison negatively, to only turn on ourselves and feel like we are losing. This addictive pattern can get triggered anytime we see others who have what we think we want. For example, if we’re not in a relationship and see couples around us who look so happy and in love, it’s easy for envious thoughts to come up and to start to believe that we fall short. We undermine ourselves and we feel bad by thinking that we can’t have the things we want.

One option is to observe our envy and use it to dig deeper. We can say to ourselves, “OK, what this person has is something I would really like to manifest in my own life. Now what do I need to affirm or what actions can I take to bring me closer to it?” Ultimately, negative comparison is the lazy man’s approach to life. When you think, “Other people have something and I’ll never get it,” you give yourself permission to not do the inner and outer work required to have it.

If you have a tendency to use comparison to feel like you are somehow losing, you are holding the remote in your hands and you have the ability to change the channel. It’s a choice that’s available to you: You can start, at any moment, to feel like a winner. I was recently listening to a TedTalk by my friend Tristan Harris, an ex-Google employee who founded Time Well Spent, a movement to connect technology with our humanity. Tristan’s findings, and the work of many researchers, have confirmed that social media can amplify negative comparison. So ask yourself, when you’re scrolling through Instagram or Facebook: Are you seeking evidence that everyone else is living a better/happier/more successful life?

The minute we compare ourselves negatively, we reinforce a part of our brains that tells us we are less than or that we are lacking in something. Of course, it’s a part of the human condition to experience the feeling that we are not enough. We are all unique individuals and have our own life path.

Why is this mind-set so hard to break? One reason is that we rarely compare ourselves to the people who have far less than us. But if we want to overcome the negative comparison cycle, the number one tool is what I call “radical gratitude.”

That concept really came into focus for me recently when I was speaking at the World Domination Summit in Portland, a gathering of people from all over the world who are doing good things to help others in their lives. I had the opportunity to hear a fellow speaker, Scott Harrison, the Founder and CEO of charity: water, give an inspiring talk. Scott told story after story about what people have to go through in many parts of the world just to get clean water. Imagine being a mother and having to protect your child from water with leeches and debris in it—water that causes disease and makes people sick and even die.

When we’re redirecting our thoughts from what we lack to what we have, we can start with our most basic needs. Most of us not only have access to clean water, but hot water and cold water—not to mention the many options of bottled, sparkling, or even vitamin water. It may sound simple, but instead remembering that you’re being taken care of in the most fundamental ways can help shift you from “lack” mode.

But we compare ourselves to people who we think have better jobs, better looks, better love relationships, more success. And sometimes we’re right—the grass may be greener on the other side…. but, really, who cares? And more importantly, do you really want to put your energy into what other people have, rather than putting all that focus in creating your own life? Once you start to see the comparison habit as a distraction from your life—and the person you can become—you may feel more willing to redirect your thoughts and focus on your unique gifts.

I was very blessed to be raised by a mother who was so passionate about people standing in their uniqueness. Growing up, I was a terrible student and hated math; I prayed every day that my math teacher would retire. I was only concerned with the arts and going to my dance classes. My sister Arianna, on the other hand, was a brilliant student who got all A’s. School was torturous for me, but instead of comparing me to my sister, my mom would say to me: “We didn’t bring you here for the math, we brought you here for the joy.” Can you believe it?: Years and years later, I would end up writing a book called Wake Up To The Joy Of You. My mother’s point was that we all have our own paths; focusing on your own is the surest way to fulfill your life’s purpose.

When you dwell on what other people have, you’re putting energy into their life and ignoring your own, which derails you from your own destiny. You’re essentially taking the slowest-moving train to your destination—making stops in the village of Self Pity, Doubt, Despair, and Low Self-Worth. Wouldn’t you rather be taking the express Amtrak Acela that puts you full speed toward your own dreams coming true?

As an actress, I suffered from my own form of self-doubt, and I experienced many times the cost of comparison. When another actor got the part, I would be filled with feelings of inadequacy. I would rob myself of my joy and stop looking at other opportunities which didn’t allow me to blossom the way that I was meant to. This unhappiness ultimately led me to a soul-searching path and helped my find my true calling. I had to experience my own value regardless of whether I had an acting career or not.

What we forget during times of comparison is that what is ours will find us if we trust and if we are true to ourselves. If you catch yourself, don’t judge yourself. Observe what is going on and tell yourself “There is that bad habit again.” When you forget this and you fall into the habbit of comparison, you can turn to one of favorite quotes by the Sufi poet Imam al-Shafi’i: “My heart is at ease knowing that what is meant for me will never miss me, and that which misses me was never meant for me.” It’s then that you will know that you will be at peace with who you are and what you have, to create more of what is yours to experience.

Wake Up to the Joy of You

nofceoWake Up To The Joy of Not Comparing Yourself — We are all unique individuals and have our own life path.
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A New Dawn Presents: A Evening with Agapi Stassinopoulos May3rd @ 6:30PM — Bedminster Township, NJ

Please join us as we rekindle our joy and reconnect with our hearts, our creative selves and share an inspiring evening of Wisdom, Love and Laughter.

“An evening spent with Agapi brings joy like no other.” Dawn Jiosi

WHEN:
May 3rd at 6:30PM

WHERE:
Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club
811 Rattlesnake Bridge Rd, Bedminster Township, NJ 07921

RESERVE MY SEATS NOW

nofceoA New Dawn Presents: A Evening with Agapi Stassinopoulos May3rd @ 6:30PM — Bedminster Township, NJ
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A Facebook Live Event with Sarah Gibbons, founder of Conscious Working Mama, and Agapi Stassinopoulos 3/17 @ 9:30am

Join Conscious Working Mama clients and other moms for an inspiring and vivacious conversation with Agapi Stassinopoulos. Agapi Stassinopoulos is the sister of Arianna Huffington and recently released her fourth book, Wake Up to the Joy of You.

Agapi and Sarah will talk about how to:

  • Ignite your joy and learn to live in the fullness of your heart.
  • Cultivate the building blocks of self-care.
  • Confront common obstacles to happiness that modern moms face
  • Trust and express your creativity

Join us on 3/17 @ 9:30am PT. See you there! Click on the event link and join… https://www.facebook.com/events/1277073502370087/

nofceoA Facebook Live Event with Sarah Gibbons, founder of Conscious Working Mama, and Agapi Stassinopoulos 3/17 @ 9:30am
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Talk and Guided Meditation — Unplug Meditation Los Angeles FEB 25 @ 2PM

unplug meditation
Join me at Unplug Meditation where I will give an inspiring talk about how we can live in our calmness for a happier life and how to fill ourselves up with goodness. There will be a guided meditation and interactive exercise to tap into our joy and leave with a joy buddy so everyone can leave feeling lifted and connected. Book signing at the end of the event!

Feb. 25th
2 PM – 4PM
(Free Event)

Unplug Meditation
12401 Wilshire Blvd
Suite 101
Los Angeles, CA 90025

RSVP on the Unplug Meditation class schedule, scroll to Feb. 25th 2pm-4pm and you will see the event sign up:
Click Here to RSVP Now

nofceoTalk and Guided Meditation — Unplug Meditation Los Angeles FEB 25 @ 2PM
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Wake Up to the Joy of You Book Launch & Celebration — Wanderlust Hollywood FEB 17 @ 7PM

WanderLust Hollywood

I am so excited to let you know that I am coming to LA to do a wonderful event and book signing on February 15th with Wanderlust Hollywood to celebrate my new book Wake Up to the Joy of You.

I would love for you to join me for an inspiring talk, guided meditation and an interactive exercise to help you find your joy triggers and leave with a joy buddy! I can’t wait to see you all there to ignite our joy and of course there’s bound to be dancing!

Wednesday, February 15th
7 PM – 9 PM PST
Register Now

Wanderlust Hollywood
1357 Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90028

nofceoWake Up to the Joy of You Book Launch & Celebration — Wanderlust Hollywood FEB 17 @ 7PM
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