Comparisons: Reverse Your Perception

Posted on August 16, 2021 by mitchteemley
A Hard Climb (pixaby.com)Photo courtesy of pixaby.com

Thought for the Week

“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” ~Steven Furtick

Comparing ourselves to others is hardly a novel topic. There are plenty of articles advising against it. And most of us heartily agree with such advice. However, applying it is another story. Why? Perhaps because, as Furtick points out, so many others seem to have it more together than us, seem to have easily and quickly accomplished their goals.

But the moment we look beyond the “highlight reels” we discover that not only some but virtually all admired and successful people, past and present, struggled intensely to reach the highlight stage (Beethoven, Mozart, Lincoln, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr, Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Phelps, Malala Yousafzai…the list is endless). In fact, when we finish reading their biographies, even in short form, we’re inclined to reverse our perception, and shout, “Boy, I’m glad I don’t have their life!”

Good start! Now go and be so you-ily you that one day people will celebrate your highlight reel—not despite what you’ve been through…

But because of it!

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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26 Responses to Comparisons: Reverse Your Perception

  1. revruss1220 says:
    August 16, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    Guilty on ALL counts! In fact, before I even started reading your post, I looked at the photo and thought, “Gee! Look at that athletic climber. If only I could be more like that.” Great wisdom to start the week with. Thanks, Mitch.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Liz Gauffreau says:
    August 16, 2021 at 12:57 pm

    I really like the Steven Furtick quote.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. joynealkidney says:
    August 16, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    But two decades of fibromyalgia is still part of my story. I don’t want to be defined by it, but the symptoms it brings do dictate my energy every day. I thank God I’m able to thrive (being me-ily) on some level, and get writing done, despite this mostly-homeboundness..

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. pastorpete51 says:
    August 16, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    Nice post and another great new word. Youily? – Youly? Youilee?- blessings brother!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Michele Lee says:
    August 16, 2021 at 9:48 pm

    Excellent and empowering message, Mitch. Mondays need a little extra motivation – this is a good one!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. Narayan Kaudinya says:
    August 16, 2021 at 11:49 pm

    So true Mitch, but i guess covid helped in curbing this feeling.

    Nara x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • mitchteemley says:
      August 17, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      COVID has levelled the playing field in some way, hasn’t it, Nara?

      Like

      Reply
      • Narayan Kaudinya says:
        August 17, 2021 at 1:15 pm

        More than even levelling, i feel it has even shown the mirror to innumerable many in understanding the futility of it all. Of spending, or show offing endlessly. It is going to be different direction for the world from here onwards. US capitalism is not how the way world works, more so what happened in Afghanistan will have its spill over in a decade time or less. At least we in India and China, certainly in Pakistan are going to feel it a lot earlier.

        Thanks Mitch
        Nara x

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Just Jodie says:
    August 17, 2021 at 11:29 am

    I just listened to this message! Copy that. Here’s an amazing leader- man if God.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. TEP336 says:
    August 17, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    I’m very much not a fan of Furtik, I have serious issues with his teachings, but that quote nailed it right on the head. Rather than compare ourselves to one another, we ought to consider comparing ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and strive to emulate Him.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • mitchteemley says:
      August 17, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      I checked out Furtik’s and his church’s websites, but haven’t heard any of his sermons.

      Like

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      • TEP336 says:
        August 17, 2021 at 1:20 pm

        There’s a lot of Word of Faith and Prosperity in his work. I’ve heard some of his preaching, and some of it is good, but there’s no small amount of heresy there.

        Like

      • mitchteemley says:
        August 17, 2021 at 1:24 pm

        Ah, gotcha. I didn’t know that.

        Like

      • TEP336 says:
        August 17, 2021 at 3:51 pm

        I think the main issue with many of the popular preachers and movements out there is that no one is doing the necessary due diligence when it comes to researching preachers and their teachings. Of course, it’s also possible that I’m simply just paranoid. I’m pretty sure I’m a descendant of Irenaeus. I’ve certainly developed his drive for finding and uprooting heresy.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. gpavants says:
    August 18, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    Mitch,

    I am glad we didn’t get day-by-day of Moses and the Isrealites for those 40 years. We all gleem the lessons from our normal days for our own highlight reel.

    Thanks,

    Gary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Turtle Quotes says:
    September 23, 2021 at 5:46 am

    It was an amazing quote I must say! And true every great personality in past and in present struggled hard to reach the highlight point. Mother Teresa is one such example which I always keep in mind, I think everybody should read about her hardships and about her compassion to learn something from her. Here you can read all about her, known and unknown facts https://turtlequote.com/quotes-from-mother-teresa/

    Liked by 1 person

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