Comparison is the Thief of Joy - Jennifer McCready

I woke up this morning and after looking through Instagram and Facebook I found myself comparing myself to other people.
But the crazy part is I didn't even realize that I was doing it. I woke up in good spirits and then I as soon as I started flipping through my Instagram.. BAM! I started to doubt myself evaluate myself and like I said, compare myself. Because I didn't even know I was doing it, it had absorbed quite deeply before I even realized that I needed to stop.

Social media can sure be awesome. It has led me to so many people who not only I have helped but they have helped me.

But there's so many dark sides to social media. I have read so many memes about not comparing yourself to other people you see on social media. I kind of just brushed it away and didn't even think twice about it because I didn't think I did that. But apparently I do.

Lady Luck is my life the body positive aspect, the mental health aspect, the helping people aspect but also the photography side of it is all, very important to me and it's what fuels my fire and I feel is the reason why I was put here on this Earth.

So I'll just be honest, I found myself looking at other photographers from around the world, comparing my lighting, my studio and all these other things that they have that I don't...meanwhile just last night I was sitting on my computer editing saying to myself how thankful I was for the studio I have for the talent that I have and for everything that I've received along the way, to get to me to where I am today.

How quickly can we start to slip into that black dark hole eh? It's Flippin nuts! One day you're soaring through the sky because you're feeling so good about yourself and what you do and then the next day you see one thing on the internet and it completely changes your mindset.
This is why social media can be a negative thing. I guess it all depends on how you personally deal with it.

So I end this ramble with this. It's okay if you find yourself comparing yourself to other people. Especially when you're using it to fuel your fire to work harder, to be better, and to drive you into positive spaces.
BUT. It's not okay when you start to beat yourself up over it. When you start to look down on yourself because you're not as thin as that person or you don't have the material things that another person has.
What matters is the balance.

You can go down that hole.. They black creepy hold.. as long as you don't fall all the way in, sometimes the climbing up and out is what helps you get through and drives you to work even harder.

And remember this. Be thankful for all the things you have. Be thankful for who you are, how far you've come and for everything you've worked hard for. After all the more thankful if you are for what you have, the more the universe will give you.

Always do you,

Jennifer

Amazing photo by my super awesome boyfriend, who reminds me everyday that I am beautiful, and kick ass <3 David FB and Lucky 73