Comparison is a topic that has sparked my interest and it doesn’t look like that interest is going away any time soon.

Although I’m far from mastering comparison, I’ve grown, and am growing, a lot in my understanding of it. 

Today, an interesting event happened that brought me to an interesting realization.

I’ve been actively decreasing the amount of time I spend on social media because of a) the minimal value I gain in relation to the increased amount of time I spend on it b) how it directs my focus on things I don’t have, whether that be material things or events and memories I’m not a part of c) my personal inability to control my focus from diverting to what I do not have when using social media. 

Today I spent about 40 minutes on social media, more than I normally do. But it wasn’t so much the increase of time, as it was the purposeless of the wandering. Eventually, I stumbled upon a post where I choose to feel like I was missing out. 

This is an important point, a post can not make me feel one way or anther, rather my choice to feel one way or another is the key decision.

Because I know comparison is something I struggle with, I’m doing two things to minimize repeats of this experience:

1. Not wandering aimlessly on social media, every login is with a purpose. Make that purpose clear and tangible before logging in.
2. When you’re tempted with feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out) acknowledge that you’re feeling that way a) how blessed you are in your current situation b) that you have a choice over how you feel and that c) you will actively choose to not to feel that way.

Don’t be fooled, there is a reason for what you are going through.

You are not missing out.