When You Feel Behind, Just Remember, We Aren’t Competing Against Each Other

I love living in San Diego.

The weather is – well, you know – incredible and the fish tacos are to die for. I love that we don’t take things too seriously around here and that I actually get to live twenty minutes away from Bob Goff. (How great is that?)

But, despite the great weather and delicious cuisine, there is one small thing that bothers me about living on the West Coast.

The time zone. Yes, Pacific Standard Time is a problem.

Here’s why: Each morning when I wake up at 6 a.m., roll out of bed and wipe the wipe the sleep from my eyes, I feel like I’m already running behind. Why? Pacific Standard Time.

You see, while I was in bed, the fine people on the East Coast started their day a full three hours ago. They got a head start and now all of us Left Coasters are fumbling to catch up with them.

*Photo by Victor, Creative Commons

Life sometimes feels this way doesn’t it? There is this nagging feeling that others are making more progress than us. We’re slowly falling behind or in a constant state of playing catch up to keep up.

Perhaps you feel right now that your friends are advancing in their career and you’re not. Or a fellow pastor’s church is swimming in cash and you’re just trying to keep the lights on. Or your best friend recently got engaged to Prince Charming and your love life is DOA. You’re doing everything right, making good choices, and working hard, but in your mind it is still not enough. You convince yourself, “God must like them better than me.”

The hard truth is that sometimes people will get ahead of you. John got the lucky break and got hired early on at the now billion-dollar tech startup. Or your best friend’s parents paid for her Ivy League college education. He’s a natural with the girls and you’re Mr. Awkward who suffers during small talk.

These things happen. Don’t fight against them. Let it go and let it be.

However, what you must fiercely battle against is comparing yourself to others. Comparison leads nowhere other than feelings of inferiority and depression. Trust me, I know. My darkest days have been when I’m wishing I were more like those other people that are incredibly smart, successful and seem to know what they are doing.

So, when you start feeling the pressure to be more, or better, or farther ahead, or married by now, just stop it. Dare to be who you are. Not whom others hoped you would be. Trust that wherever you are is right where you are supposed to be at. That should take some pressure off, right?

Take a deep breath and try showing yourself some grace today. If you feel like you’re behind, just know you’re not, and enjoy your story wherever it is. And trust that no matter what time zone you might be in right now, the sun will come up.

What things keep you from enjoying your story?

When You Feel Behind, Just Remember, We Aren’t Competing Against Each Other is a post from: Storyline Blog