Monkey Bars to Mountains

Monkey Bars to Mountains

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Fbfo33mXs

 

I don’t know about you, but I really like this clip.

I think what I like the most about it, is that it shows us the main character, Jim Hawkins, feeling a bit low…and glum. He’s transparent and vulnerable.

To be quite honest, it’s actually quite refreshing.

We all too often see others when they are relishing in their triumph (the ‘good times’), when life is going smoothly, but very rarely do we see them in their struggles; and yet, here’s Jim, a young ambitious fella who many people would look at and think “wow that guy is awesome! He sure is going places.” As we see though, even HE struggles with self-doubt.

I guess what I’m trying to get at, is that it is very easy for us to compare ourselves with the success of others that we forget about the reality. We can look at them, and almost ‘exalt’ them into this place of ‘perfection’ or the ‘ideal person’. That’s not to say having role models or someone that inspires you is a bad thing, but it’s just being conscious that we don’t place others on that blessed ‘pedestal of perfection’ where we suddenly begin to find our identity in them. (Trippy thought…finding our identity in SOMEONE ELSE, but it can happen. I can vouch for it.)

Exalt others based on our perceptions of them, can actually be pretty gnarly, as it devalues both our own worth, and theirs.

AKA. (what happens)

                           Us                                                                          

• We feel worthless and inadequate  compared to them
• Lowers our self-esteem
• Which makes us feel pretty unhappy                  

                                                                   

Others/person comparing too

• Comparison places expectation on them; an expectation that is unrealistic and unattainable
• Increased sense of pressure and stress
• Feeling inadequate because they don’t meet that ‘perfect’ perception

 

 

Not exactly a ‘win-win’ situation, right?

So with that said, here’s where I’ll leave you.

When we compare ourselves to others, we are basing it off the good things going on in that person’s life; often neglecting that they too, go through different struggles and hard times as well.

Just because you aren’t seeing the things you want to be seeing right now in your life, doesn’t mean you’re a failure or less important than others.

In fact, maybe we can learn something in all of this.

Rather than growing resentful towards those who are going through ‘good times’ be encouraged, because it’s like a friendly reminder that we are important, because we are just as valued and as precious as that person… our ‘good’ season is just needing a bit more time to brew.