Stay In Your Own Lane and Focus On Your Own Growth
It is easy to compare yourself to others. When you see your peers' accomplishments, successes, and happiness, it can make your own life seem dull. This is a misinterpretation of yourself and those around you. Stay in your lane and focus on your growth. Be the best version of yourself with these tips!
Do not try to form someone else's narrative.
When you see the lives of people around you, it is the tip of the iceberg. You know what they choose to disclose. Looking at someone's Instagram account, you will form a perspective of them. It is important to remember they decided what to post, and you interpret it. How you interpret other people's lives is a reflection of yourself. For example, if you are lonely and see a post of someone surrounded by "friends," it may cause you to feel isolated. In reality, those people could be toxic, not friends at all. If you want to have more then you currently have in life, go get it! Switch your perspective to your narrative and focus on personal growth.
Other people's accomplishments do not take away from your own.
Practice being genuinely happy for others. When your peers succeed, it does not take away from your accomplishments. For example, a co-worker gets a raise that you thought you deserved. They probably deserved it too, they probably worked hard, and it's good for them. They did not take money out of your pockets, they experienced something positive! If you think you deserve a raise too, work harder. Unless you are directly involved with someone, their life is not your business. It is infinitely harder to focus on your growth if you're busy concerning yourself with others.
Focus on what you have control over.
Examine what you can and cannot control. You can control the effort you put into something, but not the outcome. In the above example, you may work hard for the raise, deserve the raise, and still not get it. Instead of focusing on the negatives, be happy knowing you gave your best effort. Sometimes life isn't fair, and that is not something you can control. Growing as a person involves actively striving for your best, not someone else's best.
Life is not a race.
You are allowed to move through life at your own pace. There is no need to challenge those around you to reach the finish line. If a friend finishes school at 22, and you finish at 28, then congrats, you finished school! You did it! Be proud of yourself! And be proud of your friend too! Your story is different than theirs and accepting that will make things much easier.
Acknowledge your feeling.
Every day that you wake up is a new day for growth. Not every day is a good day, and that is okay. Avoid comparing your bad days to other people's good days. Stay focused on yourself, on what you accomplished today, and how you can do better tomorrow. Accomplishments can be small, like getting out of bed on a bad day. Work through your feelings and ask yourself why you shifted focus from yourself to your peers. Healthily work through your feelings, and practice daily self-care. Taking care of yourself should be your number one priority!
It is easy to get distracted and lose focus on what is important! Don't worry about what other people are doing. You do not own their success or failures. The only thing you can control is yourself and your actions. Go through life at a speed that feels the most authentic to you. Life is not a race!
Most importantly, acknowledge your feelings and healthily work through them. Practice self-care daily and take time for yourself.
In the comment below, let us know your favorite ways to promote personal growth.