So why do we sit and think about things we’ve done in the past; possibly regretting decisions we’ve made? Sitting there, comparing yourself to random strangers, forgetting how unique we are? Comparing ourselves to our own past as though we are a different person? Sitting worrying about the future, worrying about if we are enough, if we will have enough things?
It is getting harder to enter a state of being in the present moment with all our daily distractions. Our phones have basically become an extension on the end of our arms, something that is taking our focus from what is going on under our very noses.
There are platforms that promote “your best self” portraits of people such and Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook, that it is becoming extremely difficult or neigh-on impossible not to compare yourself to a thousand people a day.
It is easy to get lost in this world for hours at a time, to then snap back to your reality which may be a little less vibrant than the filtered and edited world of social media.
It then drags you down a hole of your past life, having it all there for you, all your past relationships, your past indiscretions and bad choices all crammed into one spot for you to wallow in.
This can leave you wondering what you’ve done for the past decade, looking in the mirror thinking, “geez, I was a lot fitter and happier back then” which can leave a dark impression on your energy.
This can happen without you ever realising and it snowballs. This gets you following a diet and nutrition regime of someone you found on Instagram who is skinny and tanned and apparently the happiest person in the World. Following a diet that could never in a million years provide you with the correct balance of macro, micro and phytonutrients you need to operate at your optimum which will leave you feeling even flatter and lower than before.
It is a vicious cycle that is hard to break out of. But sometimes all you need is a break.
A break from comparing yourself to other people.
A break from comparing yourself to your past.
A break from beating yourself up.
A break from starving yourself.
A break from not doing enough.
A break from not being skinny enough.
A break from all social media .
A break from your phone.
Learning to love yourself and those closest to you, letting love flow through you is one of the hardest things to achieve, but it is simple and the most rewarding thing you will ever do.
Take a break and just enjoy what is right next to you in your life. Whether that is your partner, your child, your family, your pets, your plants, your friends, the wind that is gently blowing through the open window, the sunlight that is reaching out across the room touching your feet, the clouds rolling through the late afternoon blue sky, the sound of the birds in the tree outside, the kettle boiling for your favourite cup of tea, the water running out of the tap as you fill your sink; whatever it is, just take a break. Even if it is for a few seconds and appreciate what is right under your nose.
And who knows; you may start to enjoy things a bit more. I know I have and I think my son will be thankful that I did take a break and watch and play with him and encourage his wonderful development through early childhood.
The world is an amazing place and it is happening right under our noses!
You are amazing and so is the world around us.