Your first thoughts may be, “Of course I’m not good enough. Most people are way more accomplished than I am.” And with that begins a journey of feeling inadequate, less than, and perhaps even a bit of a failure.
Last time I wrote about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others on social media. This point was really driven home by postings that have been evident since the pandemic lockdown. Some have posted that they used the lockdown to learn a foreign language, master French cooking, or became an app designer. The implication is that if you didn’t come out of the lockdown without a new skill or a new business, then you are an undisciplined slug. But is that accurate?
Of course not! The pandemic challenged us in so many ways. Many parents were now working from home, attempting to help their children do online learning, dealing with numerous interruptions, and losing the social connections that they had when they were in the work place. Zoom meetings just aren’t the same.
So, if you have found yourself exhausted from learning to navigate life, household, and family in new and different (and challenging) ways – know that you are not alone. Know that you have survived something that people haven’t had to deal with in 100 years, and that is more than good enough. I encourage you, rather than waste your energy comparing yourself to others, be kind to yourself and accept that you are dearly loved by the One who created you. And God doesn’t make junk!