It’s incredible how amazing everyone’s life looks on Instagram. From my feed, it seems like I only know people who are constantly going on extravagant vacations, have dream jobs, flawless skin, perfect kids, and homes freshly remodeled by Chip and Joanna Gaines. I can’t help but to compare.
But, I know that it’s not the truth. I know it because my own mildly boring life appears on social media to be somewhat awesome.
Even so, perception doesn’t stop the insecurity and dissatisfaction that comes creeping in. Comparison truly is the “thief of joy” and we have never been more addicted to comparison as a society.
A few years ago, we went through a really hard season as a band. We had just released a record and critics responded to with a kind of “take or leave” mentality. That was hard as musicians because at the very least, we want our art to evoke and inspire something.
We began to compare ourselves to the successes of others and became blind to any of the good that was going on in our lives. Thankfully, we had people speaking truth into us and they were able to help us recover joy.
The problem is, we are forgetful people when it comes to what we have been blessed with. We’re more likely to fixate on what we don’t have than celebrate what we do. We need to become a thankful people, for the sake of our own joy – so it’s not just left up to our changing emotions and shifting circumstances. We really have been blessed beyond all measure.
What would it look like if we made a commitment to be people who take stock of the wonderful gifts we’ve been given, who count our blessings and turn them into praise?
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*Written by Chris Llewellyn, the lead singer of the internationally renowned Rend Collective. Married to wife Gabby, who also serves as the band’s social media director.