Next time you start comparing yourself to a photo of someone on holiday in a bikini with a cocktail, looking stunning, whilst you’re in your pyjamas after a long day, remember that this is not a fair comparison. Everyone has pyjamas and everyone gets tired and has bad days.
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun. Try something new, or rediscover an old interest. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving.
by blogger Julia Whiting.
An entire year has passed since I wrote “Comparison: How to make sure you allow yourself a level playing field“. It covers the issues associated with comparing ourselves to others and how to overcome the negative thoughts we often curate as a result.
Be curious. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Exercising makes you feel good. Discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness. Go for a walk or run, step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Try gardening, or dance.
Getting help means you’re strong enough to admit that you can’t handle it on your own. And no-one since the dawn of time has ever handled everything in their life all on their own.
Mindfulness meditation involves sitting silently and paying attention to thoughts, sounds, the sensations of breathing or parts of the body, bringing your attention back whenever the mind starts to wander.
It can be helpful to take a mindful approach if you realise that, for several minutes, you have been “trapped” in reliving past problems or “pre-living” future worries.
Connect with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, at home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.