Wisdom on your uniqueness

Comparison is the slippery slope to depression and anxiety. It's a trap that's easy to step into, especially if you spend approximately 1 minute on social.

Even at the height of my 70MM dollar consulting business, I floated around in comparison land. Blah. And I still catch myself stumbling into it now.

Quick pause: When was the last time a comparison gremlin snuck up on you? What triggered it? 👾 

Anyway, here's why it's a trap and why it doesn't make sense to partake in that poisonous snack:

You don't know it's happening. 

Have you ever walked into a door? Don’t laugh, I have! It’s like that. One minute, you’re minding your business, then BLAM!

It’s too predictable... I'll pop online for a few minutes and then notice that I feel meh. Subconsciously, I started considering the social hierarchy and my position in it and didn’t even notice it. SMACK - I walked right into it. Trap!

To keep our mindset and emotions in check, we must know it's a battlefield. Awareness of the trap(s) is vital to running the race that's ours alone.

You have too much uniqueness. 

Imagine an orange that is so orangey and juicy shimmering in that FL sun, hops on a truck up to good ol' North Carolina and sees a big green shiny Granny Smith. That orange looks at that Granny Smith and gets sad and depressed because it's not a Granny Smith.

It's apples and oranges. 🍏 🍊 

Same with YOU and everybody else out there.

It's up to you to discover your uniqueness and cultivate that.

Your make-up differs entirely from the other 8ish billion people roaming the earth.

All of the nuances of your makeup is a very unique combination.

This is crazy:

• Ten digits (0-10) can have billions of variations (uniqueness) (source: internet, it doesn’t lie).

• Human? Often cited, you are 1 in 70 trillion based on your genetics. In layman’s terms, that’s superduper unique.

All that to say, there ain’t nobody like you, baby.

Which leads to...

Focus on your gifts and strengths. 

This is top of mind for me. I'm practicing more diligence to orient my life and schedule around my gifts and talents. Those gifts and talents are part of what makes me me.

What would your life look like if you discovered what you're great at and focused on cultivating those abilities? You'd be wiser and have more joy, for sure. You might even feel more joy and richness than those shiny green Granny Smiths.

How does one do this?

Reflect, write, and then think.

I want you to get a text editor up and set a timer for 10 minutes. Cut off all distractions. Answer the following prompt and then write.

Prompt: "What comes naturally to me, and what do I enjoy doing?"

Start writing. Don't stop, don't edit. Just write. You must get as many words out in that 10 minutes as possible.

Look at what you wrote. Circle the three things that light you up the most. Those are your clues.

Be intentional about finding your uniqueness and leaning into it. The more we operate out of our natural God-given gifts (uniqueness), the more joy, fulfillment and sustainability we'll experience.

Be busy with your work, and don’t worry about what your “neighbor” has or is doing.

What is your uniqueness? Find it. Cultivate it. Honor it.

Understand your unique value.

Either we don't understand our value, or we devalue ourselves. That’s why we slip into comparison.

Let's say you have two hundred dollar bills. K? Maybe one is worn and torn, and the other is crisp and clean. Just because the one is worn out, does that mean it’s worth less than the one that just rolled off the printing press?

No, it doesn’t.

By our unhealthy perceptions, we devalue ourselves.

Your move: Pick ONE thing from your uniqueness list and schedule 30 minutes this week to do just that—no comparison, no second-guessing - just you being uniquely you.

Now, compare that list with what you typically spend your time on. What does it reflect? If you aren't spending your time primarily out of your gifts and abilities, consider adjusting your schedule if possible.

Keep it in front of you.

As you understand your uniqueness, you must keep it in front of you daily. I am constantly tinkering with my gifts and abilities to see how to cultivate them and utilize them for the good of others. It’s a process that I’m enjoying.

When I focus on my work and mission, I don’t have time to concern myself with pretenses about others.

Thoughts? Hit me up and lemme know.

Much love,

C