Dear friend,
Most of the anxiety and misery we experience is because of our yearning to live up to par with who and what we’re surrounded by.
We often compare ourselves to the people around us at home, school, work, and even on social media. We tend to believe that to be successful and content we must be and do as they are. We compare our best to their best, and if it differs, we judge ourselves, which only needles more pain and suffering.
It’s easy to lose yourself in all that you aren’t being and doing during tough and trying times. You overlook how you’re showing up and putting in the work because you’ve become fixated on other’s best, which seems more significant. In turn, you feel like you’re falling behind or failing in comparison to others.
I’m sure you’ve also had days where your best felt like it was at an all-time high. You may recall that you were simply immersed in what felt right for and to you. You didn’t compare your best to another's because it was already enough. You only compare your best to another's when you’re experiencing hardships that deteriorate the energy of your mind, body, and soul. However, such instances guide you to take a step back, so you can restore your energy, and be and do your best with high vibrations.
When you’re amidst a difficult season, allow yourself to accept and surrender to it. In doing so, you settle the distress you’re facing to make space for stillness—where you become aware of what your best feels and looks like, and you won’t criticize yourself for it not being up to par with who and what you’re surrounded by. You’ll realize that it’s where your mind, body, and soul are at in that time and space, and it’s simply enough.
It’s no secret that the journey through life is nonlinear, and your best is bound to regularly fluctuate. When you your best is vibrating at a low, don’t be so hard on yourself because it doesn’t mean that it’s not enough. It simply means that your mind, body, and soul are requesting you to take a step back, re-energize, and restart.
Every single person has ups and downs in their day-to-day life, and you never truly know what someone is going through behind the scenes of what you perceive to be their best. How others show up and what they do is their best. Your best is YOUR best. We’re all at a different time and space in the journey through life. Never lose yourself in comparing how you show up and what you do to others.
With Love,
Jasmine
Heal, Grow, & Ripen is a weekly newsletter on embracing the journey through pain and suffering to harvest the sweetness of life with more presence, joy, and peace. Please feel free to share this with family and friends that might find it helpful!