Comparison is the Thief of Joy

Theodore Roosevelt hit the nail on the head with that one. It's human nature to compare ourselves to others...and it doesn't matter what it is...it can make us feel awful. Even worse, it can make us doubt ourselves and the lives that we lead.

The more I delve into the creative world of interior decorating (and the social media world attached to it), the more I find myself comparing myself to others: their houses, their businesses...their number of followers. What's funny, is that, before I launched my business, I didn't really care about what other folks were doing. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum and I think that is what makes my design aesthetic so unique and appealing. I have been allowing outside influences to make their way into my brain lately and it's started to chip away at my good vibes.

Why am I telling you all of this? Two reasons. One...I consider all of you friends. I'm in the business of interior decorating and styling because I really want to make a difference in people's lives. I see the joy in my clients' eyes after every project I finish; I want to help as many folks as I can! A friendship means being honest about this journey I'm on in my professional career. Two...this honesty also means that I can tell you how easily comparison can take the joy out of the life you're living. Whether it's a job, car, kids, or your home...we can all succumb to the seeminly "perfect" images around us. We see them every day on Facebook, Instagram, and on television. While it's nearly impossible to eliminate the media noise coming at us, we can stand up against the camparison we feel creeping into our hearts and minds.

Instead of wishing we had the perfect house, perfect kids, perfect life (or what we consider perfect in others' lives), we need to be thankful for the amazing and unique lives we get to live! I would much rather go to someone's house that clearly reflects who they are as a person or family...a HOME where you can tell love lives...instead of a house that's just a show-place, filled with all the current trends.

I'm asking you today to take a look around you. Are you feeling less-than in some area(s) of your life just because you think someone else has it better? If you are, don't! The amazing part of the human experience is how unique and weird we all are! Trust me...we're all weird...and it's great! It's what makes life fun and worth the ride.

I'm taking my good vibes back from the comparison monster...I hope you will too!

Stay stylish,

Hilary