reflecting...

As we open the door on a new year, we often spend time making resolutions (altho I prefer goals), reflecting on the past, planning for the future.  As I was doing some reflecting, I came to a very profound realization. You might want to sit down for this...are you ready?  Dying from suspense? Here goes...I realized  I am okay just the way I am.  I know profound right...knock your socks off profound. ha!  I actually realized that I was only going to be happy in my own skin when I quit comparing myself to others, and stop trying to live up to the the standards I think someone else meets. You know exactly what I mean...

Life would be better if...

I planned like her
took photos like
cooked like
blogged like
was committed like
studied like
parented like
knitted like
crocheted like
organized like
and the list goes on.

The reality is I create unneeded stress and anxiety by trying to meet someone else's standards, whether they are their standards or just the ones I think they have.

I can emulate any of the above things to an exact T but it wouldn't be the same because I am me and because the focus is on the wrong thing. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song called Do Everything  now before you get your feathers ruffled check out these lyrics

Your picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today
Matching up socks
Sweeping up lost cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip
Color on your lips and head out the door

While I may not know you,
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?

Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you,
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

Maybe your that guy with the suit and tie
Maybe your shirt says your name

You may be hooking up mergers
Cooking up burgers
But at the end of the day

Little stuff
Big stuff
In between stuff
God sees it all the same

While I may not know you
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/steven-curtis-chapman-do-everything-lyrics.html ]
Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every thing you do

Maybe your sitting in math class
Or maybe on a mission in the Congo
Or maybe your working at the office
Singing along with the radio

Maybe your dining at a 5-star
Or feeding orphans in the Myanmar
Anywhere and everywhere that you are

Whatever you do
It all matters
So do what you do
Don't ever forget

To do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause He made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

In every little thing you do
In every little thing you do 

So maybe I don't do the above mentioned things like someone else, but if I do everything I do, even the little things to the glory of God, then my focus is in the right place and the self imposed unnecessary expectations to be like someone else fades away.  This I am perfectly okay with!

Do you set unrealistic expectations of yourself to meet someone else's standards? Maybe it's time to ask yourself why.