Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Albert Einstein once said "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by his ability to climb a tree, it will live his whole life believing that it is stupid." 

I love that quote because it reminds me that I don't have to be good at everything. 

Because I don't have to compare myself to others, I won't self-depreciate myself by assuming that I'm missing some ability or skill that I ought to have.

When we do this, we undermine our self value and don't appreciate ourselves. I spent a lot of time in that camp. I was good at things, but other people were so much better.  

I play the harmonica. I've practiced really hard, and become good. But I don't let anybody know that.

In fact, I used to shy away from performing, because, well, I'm probably not that good. I remember at a celebration once, an old guy got up and played a rip roaring rendition of Home on the Range.

It's a simple song to learn, and I play it too, but wow! his articulations were amazing. I was to go up and perform next, but I declined - even though I could play much more complicated songs.

Later when I went up to talk to the old man, he told me that he loves to play the harmonica, but Home on the Range is the only song he plays. He's perfected it for 75 years and he's afraid to try anything else.  

That taught me a lesson. We all have our insecurities, even the old guy on stage who's belting it out with confidence.  

I can swim, but not like a fish, and that's okay. I can sing, but not like a nightingale, and that's okay. I can run, but not for very long, and that's okay.

I can do a lot of things that somebody else can do too, and my way is my way, and that's ok.