If there is one thing I learned in the past few years,
Is to not look at a single moment or photo or comment of someone,
and think I know and see the whole picture of who they are
and know what is REALLY going on for that person
It’s easy to look at a photo of someone smiling
and think they are happy
it’s easy to see someone post about some award they achieved
and think they are super successful
It’s easy to look at someone’s immaculate physique
and come to all sorts of conclusions about their health
Essentially it’s easy to have a micro-glimpse of someone
and think you know everything about them
when in reality,
There is another side to this person.
There is a bigger picture of the whole.
And despite having different experiences in life, different situations and events,
we are, all at a very basic level….the same.
Everyone experiences challenges,
deep pain,
wounds that have not been healed,
goals that have not been reached,
heartache, and loss
a chronic and recurring (and frustrating AF) pattern in their life
EVERYONE has experienced or will experience this at some point.
And from my observation it appears that most people experience challenges in every area of life at some point in their life,
a health challenge,
a financial loss,
grief of the loss of someone they love,
career challenge,
being bullied, or like they lost their voice
feeling hopeless and helpless,
and we feel all of the emotions there are available….anger, sadness, range, fear, anxiety, shame, guilt, resentment.
We experience it ALL at some point.
And the worst thing we can do is look at someone,
even just for a second,
and think they have it better than we do,
because you don’t know their hidden challenges,
stressors,
losses,
grief.
or if they are posting reflects how they actually feel.
what we can do though,
is know that we are all human,
we go through these challenges
and when we are in our challenges,
we are not alone,
in fact,
what I have discovered,
the more you think your problem is solely specific to you,
the more universal it is.
so go easy on yourself,
whatever you see in others is also is in you,
the “good” stuff,
the “bad” stuff
and that’s what makes us human.
so next time you see someone
who you think is doing better than you,
whether it’s financially,
their health,
their relationship,
their career,
their happiness,
their home,
their car,
whatever else you see….
know this…
they are human too.
and you got this,
just keep on being YOU.
XO
