A Healthy Look at Yourself
by Branda Polk at www.lifeway.com

When is the last time that you compared yourself to someone else? Women and Men are notorious for comparing ourselves to each other and determining in our minds that we are better than some but not as bad as others in many areas of our lives. We rate and gauge the worth of our looks, families, homes, financial situations, possessions, jobs and knowledge based on what others have. This is a faulty comparison system that we tend to continue in our own minds even if we never say it out loud. When you compare yourself to others on a continual basis your mental wellness starts to suffer.

Here are four steps to begin to break the cycle of comparison:

1. Realize and appreciate your uniqueness.
There is no one else exactly like you. Each person is created by God with different gifts, talents, abilities, and each of us have different personality styles, and life experiences that make us the person we are!! You are very individual and created exactly the way God intended you to be. Nothing about you in a mistake. When you compare yourself to others you are essentially saying that God was wrong for making you this way.

2. Realize that everyone is made from the same pattern.
Gen 1:26, "Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." While you are unique in your make up, every person is made in the image of God and that gives us a special bond as humans that we do not find with any other of God's creations.

3. Focus your thouhts on bigger things.
Phil 4:8, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable..if anything is excellent of praisworthy---think about such things."
Keep your eyes Focused on Jesus!!

4. Be the very best you can be.
Be as well as YOU can be not as well as you think someone wants you to be or as well as someone else is. Seek to find what is healthiest and best for you and follow that path.

As you walk the wellness path, avoid comparing your pace and progress with others. Rely on God (the power of the Holy Spirit) to lead and direct you. Wellness is achieved one wise choice at a time for life. Choose to stop comparing yourself to others.