Comparison kills Joy!

“Comparison Is the Thief of Joy”

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” What’s meant for you will never miss you. Just keep showing up for yourself, one step at a time, moving steadily toward your goals.

So often in life, we feel disappointed because we think we should be further along than we are. But who told you that lie? Who or what are you comparing yourself to? Have you ever stopped to consider that you might be exactly where you’re supposed to be, right now? Sometimes, life forces us to shift gears to take a different route than we planned and that’s okay.

There was a time in my life when I longed for the family, the husband, the kids, the house, and the dog. I even sacrificed my own well-being just to have it for a brief moment. All my friends were married while I was single. They seemed so happy, living the life I thought I wanted. Then there was Jenny, she had the same degree as me and was working in the field I dreamed of. She was catching criminals and solving crimes. If you haven’t guessed by now, I always wanted to work in law enforcement. Two of my favorite shows growing up were New York Undercover and CSI: Miami! But that wasn’t the path my life took because God had other plans.

I once had a friend who used to say, “You got your degree, so now I need to get mine.” What they didn’t see was the drive, commitment, and determination behind my journey. My reasons for pursuing my education were personal and deeply rooted and they weren’t the same as theirs. If they measured themselves against me, they were bound to feel unhappy, because comparison steals joy every time.

The truth is, we will never find peace when we compare ourselves to others. We don’t know their full story, their family structure, their support system, their financial situation, or the obstacles they faced along the way. We can assume all day long, but in the end, it only leaves us feeling foolish and unfulfilled.

What we do know is ourselves. And that’s where our focus should be, on how we can grow, improve, and show up better each day. Life will always present challenges that can slow us down or knock us off course, but once we’ve dealt with them, we rise again and keep moving forward.

I stopped comparing myself to others a long time ago. The only person I compare myself to now is the woman I was yesterday. Each night, I reflect in my journal on how my day went, how I treated myself and others and how I could do better. My goal is simple: to be a better version of myself every single day. Will I mess up? Absolutely. I’m human. But as long as I have breath in my body, I’ll keep striving to grow and improve.

So today, I want to encourage you, as I encourage myself to keep being the best version of you. It’s okay to look to others for inspiration, but never for comparison. You don’t know their story, their struggles, or their sacrifices. Continue to evolve and grow in every area of your life.

Sending you love, light and positive vibes,

Cassie K.

#SayItOnSunday

#CassieKarch

“Always remember to LIVE life to te fullest, to LAUGH at everything and to LOVE unconditionally!”