🔍 It’s not what it looks like…
Cue my vent for the day...
We only see a SPECK of someone else's life.
Remember that.
Life is crazy. And, you're not alone in living a wild and crazy life.
It can be SO discouraging (especially on social media) to watch as everyone else seemingly has their life "put together".
Looking on socials or chatting with others, we may assume their life is figured out... They MUST have an AWESOME work schedule that never hinders their life... They MUST never have to deal with family issues, health issues (mental or physical), or other life challenges...
And, while I am sure there are SOME people out there who have the luxury of very few life challenges - my guess is that those people make up a VERY small percentage of the population in the world.
When we see someone - on social media or in person - we often only see a small SPECK of their life.
On social media, it's very likely we only see the very BEST of their life (like a highlight reel of the best 1-2 minutes of their day)
And, if we meet someone in person (unless they are really close to us), we are likely to only see the "best of the best" - or the "good side".
And, we're left assuming that what we see is the truth - 100% of the time.
This image from Cerebral's Facebook Page demonstrates this concept so well...
Kenzie - why are you writing about this today?
Great question.
We live in a world of comparison.
We compare our lives, our body, our mood, our personality, our athletic/sports performance, our health, our career, etc., etc., to other people.
And, because we know our "whole story" (including all the sh*tty parts), we may assume that we are "worse off" or "not as good" or "a failure" in comparison to others.
I see this SO often in my practice.
People compare themselves to family... to friends... to social media influencers... and, even to random people who walk across the street...
It's normal.
AND, it's not (often) supportive.
I'll let you in on a story...
When I was suffering from anorexia, people would comment on my body (this is in the earlier days, when my mental health was in the dumpster but my body wasn't quite "showing the suffering")
"Wow, you have such an amazing body"
"I wish I had the same discipline as you around cookies!"
"You must be such an amazing runner with that body"
Little did they know...
My blood work was absolutely sh*t
My energy levels, mood, and hunger were awful
I wanted so badly to have a cookie - but my mind was trash-talking me 24/7 and punishing me for every "bad food" I ate
Though, yes, I was a decent runner - I often felt SO faint and dizzy (and sometimes even blacked out) because I wasn't fueling my body with enough food
If they knew "the whole story", I would take a random guess that they (very much) would NOT want to be "me" in that moment...
“Comparison is the thief of joy” ~ President Theodore Roosevelt.
I love this quote.
It's so true.
When we compare, we immediately put others lives on a pedestal - without knowing 99% of their "story".
And, it often leaves us feeling sad, discouraged, and as if we aren't doing "enough".
But your "enough" likely looks very different than others... Your "enough" might be getting out of bed... It might be going for a 10 minute walk... It might be making your own dinner or lunch from scratch... It might be driving by the fast food store and opting for something at home instead... It might be striving to get lower blood sugar levels... It might be doing a gentle yoga or meditation for your mind & body...
We are all different.
Hence why our "life strategies" also need to be different (our stress relief routines, nutrition habits, movement routine, etc.)
Our goals won't be the same.
Our journey won't be the same.
Our strategies won't be the same.
Our body/biology/psychology won't be the same.
Compare you to YOU last year.
Strive to be a better version of YOU at the same time NEXT year.
Savour your journey - and honour the ups, downs, celebrations, and challenges it will bring.
It's what makes you unique.
And, it's what makes your journey one that is so special and empowering.
DISCLAIMER: Kenzie Osborne, is not a licensed Dietitian, Naturopathic Doctor or Medical Physician. Kenzie Osborne does not diagnose diseases, disorders or conditions. You should ALWAYS consult with a medical professional prior to making ANY changes to your dietary intake and eating patterns. Any changes you make to your diet as a result of nutrition consultations with Kenzie Osborne, emails from Kenzie Osborne and/or participation in the Always Nourished Community are taken at your own risk. Kenzie Osborne does NOT prescribe any diet program or provide advice/treatment for medical conditions. It is important that you stay in continuous contact with your doctor or your primary health care provider to ensure safety and effectiveness of ANY nutrition or lifestyle change(s) you are making.