I was listening to my nine year old daughter and her friend talking about the difference between their two 3rd grade classes. They were comparing who has to work harder and which one of them has the “tougher” teacher.
This comparison conversation made me think about the tendency to assume that our struggles are “harder” than others. Ash Beckham, a LGBTQ advocate, gave a speech about coming out of the closet and stated, “There is no harder, there is just hard. We need to stop ranking our hard against everyone else’s hard to make us feel better or worse about our closets and just commiserate on the fact that we all have hard”.
Whatever your “closet” may be, you are not alone in the struggle. Others can relate to the feelings of pain, loneliness, and sadness.
It is normal and human nature to compare with others but it doesn’t serve us, and leaves us feeling more alone. So, take the time to acknowledge your personal struggles and honor them but know the people around you have experienced similar feelings in their own lives so be extra kind to them too.
“Comparison is the thief of Joy” –Theodore Roosevelt
Maybe just maybe we can leave comparison behind us and love each other knowing we all have hard.
This Post Written By:
Rachel Thomas, Owner, LMFT – Therapy With Heart
8737 E. Via De Commercio, Suite 200
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Phone: (480) 888-5380
Fax: (480) 203-2881
Email: Rachel@TherapyWithHeart.com
Website: https://therapywithheart.com
