Being Me: Week 20

"Comparison is the thief of joy" ~Theodore Roosevelt 

Being Me: Week 20 (The grass isn't always greener) - how our thoughts direct our emotions

May theme: The difference between a flower and a weed is judgment

Have you ever noticed how much we allow the thinking mind to control our actions and attitude, especially when our attitude is not in a good place? This judgment based mindset maintains a downward spiral with each negative thought when we find ourselves trapped in comparison. 

Daily we are bombarded with information through news outlets, or our social media feed, leaving it difficult not to get pulled into the sway of comparison. Images of others traveling or conquering things you wished you had tried stimulates subconscious comparison and negativity.

Perfect images we scroll past cloud our judgment when we compare our lives to the highlights of others. Scarcity leaves us feeling left out transforming our thought pattern to not enough, even though our  emotions are not engaged with the whole truth.

Whether you think the grass is greener, or find contentment where you are, reducing my participation in social media has provided clarity to my days. I'm less distracted from my daily activities, plus letting go of the social media habit I had created uncovered time for reading, (this year I have already read 28 books) more activities and exercise and the curiosity to try new recipes.

Instead of thinking the grass is greener, or what you see on social media is "better"  start taking baby steps to change your thoughts and actions. When we do better for ourselves, we feel better. By going for a walk we stop to notice the world around us, when reading we discover a world to escape to and within the screen free space we find calm instead of comparison. 

 Themes for each month to journal, create or contemplate on your journey

• January - The best time for new beginnings is now

1. Morning routine
2. Mission statement
3. Create your YES list
4. Goals, baby steps, tiny promises
5. Putting it in motion

• February - Before anything else, find yourself, be yourself and love yourself

1. Take care of your body
2. Meditation and solitude
3. Food choices and ideas for change
4. What makes you happy

• March - All you need is tea and warm socks

1. Enjoy the simple things
2. Letting go of thoughts and things
3. Both hands
4. Mindfulness (social media and smart phones)
5. Setting intentions

• April - Water your roots so your soul can blossom

1. Water and other things we need to grow
2. Time to blossom
3. The 3 R's
4. Forgiveness

• May -  The difference between a flower and a weed is judgment

1. Stop judging yourself and others (why we judge)
2. The grass isn't always greener

• June - Believe you can and your halfway there
• July - Bold stripes, bright stars, brave hearts
• August - We are who we choose to be
• September - Sometimes we can learn and study & know, and sometimes we have to believe, trust and hope
• October - We can't become what we want by remaining what we are
• November - Small seeds of gratitude will provide a harvest of hope
• December - Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of hope

 Mission Statement:  I will improve my overall health and wellness, use kindness and inspiration with a vision that creates  a community of giving and in doing so achieve my purpose in this life.   

Weekly post links