Friday, August 9, 2013

Don't Compare Yourself to Others

It's a saying I repeat to myself frequently now - Don't compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to who you used to be.

As many of you know, in April I started working out which was something I hadn't done since before I had kids. Truth be told though I never really did it much before then anyway. I've never been athletic. I've never been someone who loves the gym. I actually pretty much hate working out. Exercise, running, all of it does not come easy for me. I am not one of those people who just naturally picks it up. Just about every minute that I spend doing strenuous activity feels like the worst moment of my life. That's the truth. But a new truth I've also discovered over the last few months is that although I don't love the workouts when they are happening I do love how I feel afterwards.
 
For me each day of exercising is a struggle both physically and mentally. As I am virtually dying on the side of the road while attempting to run and someone whizzes by me with not a drop of sweat on them I think "How do they do that? Why can't I be like that?" When people at boot camp easily complete the exercises with time to spare and I barely finish I want to know why they are so much better than I am. When someone posts their race times on Facebook I wonder why I'm not as fast as them. Also, in the moment I'm not graced with encouraging thoughts for others. I'm not sending them virtual high fives - I'm refraining from punching them in the face for making it look so easy. Why can't I be happy for their success? I just find it so hard not to compare myself and my stats to others. Jealousy can be ugly. I also find it hard to sing my own praises. When people congratulated me for completing my first 5K I was quick to point out that I had to walk parts of it. Why can't I just accept the compliment? Why do I have to be so down on something that is indeed a great accomplishment?

It's something I'm working on though - every day. I'm working on not thinking about other people and their stories but focusing on my own path. I'm comparing myself to the Diane I was six months ago. Don't compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to who you used to be. Old Diane would never have even tried to go for a run. Old Diane would not be getting up at 4:45am a couple of times a week to exercise. Old Diane would not have had a salad for lunch. Old Diane would not care how many steps she took each day. Old Diane was not really a healthy role model for her kids. Old Diane is not around anymore. New Diane kicked her to the curb. If New Diane can continue to focus on these positives (and stop hating on others) there will be no stopping her!

Isabelle never drew super cute pictures of Old Diane running


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