do what YOU want
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 8:00AM 
In these internet-filled times, it's too easy to be hard on ourselves. I look at so-and-so's blog and I wish I could write like that. I look at the next enviable blog and wish I had thought of that idea. I move on to the next one and think "now why can't I just be as cool/creative/funny/[insert adjective] as this person?" And so on and so forth, until I've sufficiently compared myself to everyone possible and completely discounted myself in the process. I think you get the idea, and I don't think I'm going out on a limb by assuming that you've probably been in this position as well. It's easy to get there. There's so much good stuff out there in internet-land! People are amazing, aren't they?
People ARE amazing. And here is the thing: I'm amazing, too. We're all amazing, because we're complex, beautiful, unique, and flawed human beings. All of us, just because we're alive. I read recently that only one in every 10 million living creatures on earth is a human-- isn't that astounding? One in 10 million! We're quite special. (And now I'm wishing I would've bookmarked wherever I read that, because I'm questioning now whether it might've actually been 10 billion. Oh, brain, I wish you had a better memory!)
It takes practice to be kind to ourselves. We hold all kinds of rules for ourselves and ideas of how we should be, and in reality we just picked them up along the way somewhere thinking it was "the right way to do things," and now it's time to let them go. I think We need to be kinder to ourselves and listen to our own hearts; ask ourselves "what do I want to do?" And then do that. Not according to how anyone else thinks you should do it, but however you want to do it that makes will make your heart sing and skip beats and jump up and down in your throat. Because why would you even want to compare when you feel that? That's joy, people. Tapping into your purpose.
Our purpose is to be happy and to love one another. That can only stem from first loving and valuing ourselves. There's an amazing person inside each of us, and we're all at varying degrees of showing and shining it, but no matter what, deep down it's there. And it's unique and incomparable. You are unique and incomparable.
Reader Comments (28)
wow jessica. that's exactly what i needed to read. i compare myself to every artist and blog and sometimes want to throw in the towel. i know i have a lot of hard work still to put in...but this makes me feel like my voice is worthy of being heard : ) excellent post and super unique artwork! i love it!
Jess, I can relate to so much of what you wrote about comparing. I compare too much. We really are amazing aren't we? All of us! ♥
I love everything about this post. I really needed to hear it.
Thank you!
xo & belief in YOU,
Carmen
wow! what a great post! I've been struggling with this exact thing lately, so I really needed to hear that!
thanks!
Lovely write up...thank you for this post. It really has cheered me up. Sometimes all the inspiration on the web can be overwhelming and depressing because I feel so "behind!" It's nice to have the reminder that we are all unique and special and have a point of view to share. We are all on different journeys and comparing is badddd!
yes! jealously and envy work the exact opposite way you want them to... thx for these very positive words.
Jess, what an absolutely perfect post. I was having these exact same feelings last week and started feeling pretty down because my life didn't seem to be half as interesting/exciting/active/happy as the blogs I read make life sound. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, you hit the nail right on the head! You definitely are not alone in having these feelings, thanks for your honesty. :)
-Lisa
Aw, Jessica... just what the doctor ordered. Like a life raft. Perfect timing. Thanks. :)
Wow, Jess. Right on. Thank you.
Y'all are making my day. I'm so glad you're getting something out of what I wrote (and drew!)
What a great , so-true post. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I wish I would have .....oh wait a minute.....
It is soooo true though, how we want to keep up with the Jones so to speak, instead of just being happy with who we are and loving our unique self. you know , there is a character on The Backyardigans named Uniqua. Probably a lesson to be learned on PBS.
I needed that. Thanks. :)
This is lovely. Yes: it takes practice to be kind to ourselves. So right. So hard!
Soooooooooo needed!!! sooooooooooo true!!! soooooooo right on!!!!!!
thank you...you unique, incomparable soul you!!!
so happy i found your blog through the sweet Lori at Happiness Through Art!
i will be a regular visitor and i absolutely love your creations!!!
much love
xoxo
k
wow. it's like you read my mind! the internet overwhelms me somtetimes, like you discuss here. too many ideas, too many things to do and too little time to do it all. so i tend to stick to just a few. yours inspires me! yay!
Seems like I wasn't the only one who was in need of what you shared today! You really touched on something so important. All those self-doubts sometimes feel so true that we don't even acknowledge them, they just seem like the truth and so we live our lives defined by them.
And it's true that all the good stuff that people are doing can be overwhelming if we compare ourselves to it. But each of us also need to remember that we're only one person and we're reading and watching things from many people combined and then feel that we somehow need to measure up to all of them!
And it's true that you're amazing! And so am I, so are all of us. Every one of us is important and therefore what we do is important, even if it's just one blog post at a time. Or doing laundry, or whatever...
Thanks so much for writing this blog post today!
xo
A bright beautiful shaft of sunlight in what sometimes feels like dark days. Stop looking...start doing. If only I could figure out how to turn off my computer.
Thank you for the wonderful post. True and thoughtful and encouraging!
what a beautiful post & pondering. so true, jess!
here's to all the amazing beauty that pours out of you!!!
for some reason, i just thought of trees.
they just leaf, or fruit, and are gorgeous!
& don't think a thing about it.
xoxo
I've come here through a link on Lori Potka's blog...
What a perfect description of what I do to myself when reading other blogs!! Comparing, feeling like "less",
beating myself up..
I'm going to refer to this post many times in the future when I feel this way!!! Yes, we are all unique and special!!
Great perspective - much needed. I feel better already!!
Rachel, I think about trees that way often! I think you are right on. :) Bit thanks to Lori for her link, and welcome to those of you who found me through her blog! i'm so glad you're all here and that we can all relate to each other. It's so good.
Just what I needed to hear :) Thank you!!!!
This is so true, Jess. That's what's fascinating about blogging, you get to see people how original and creative everyone is.
You are so lovely!
Thank you!
Oh you are so lovely.
Thank you!
we need this in the book!
xoxo