Is Their Life Really Better Than Yours?

On occasion I'll hear someone compare his or her life with someone else's. The comparison usually occurs when the individual sees his or her life as inferior to the other person's.

These individuals allow themselves to become sad or depressed over what they feel is lacking in their own lives.

This "grass is greener" effect seems to have become an epidemic with the evolution of social media, which allows our friends and colleagues to share details of their lives with us. I'm reminded of a movie in which a married woman with children wished for a life other than the one she was living.

Her fantasy soon became reality and one day she woke up married to a wealthy man. Suddenly, she had no kids and spent her days shopping and traveling. Eventually she realized she was in a loveless marriage. Her husband was involved with another woman and wanted a divorce.

Being trapped in another existence helped her appreciate the love and warmth of her family. Make a mental or written note of how many times in a day you compare yourself with others. For each thought you have, remind yourself you are UNIQUE and that no matter how much better someone else's life may seem, your journey is your own.

The more you accept your uniqueness, the more you live in this truth. You experience more JOY knowing that your path, while different, offers the same opportunities for peace and happiness. Allow the gifts and TREASURES within to rise to the surface.

As you share your gifts with others you discover that the better life which seemed to belong to others also belongs to you.

You're Such a Goody-Two-Shoes

Have you ever been called “goody-two-shoes”? I have. There were times I was told I was too honest because, for example, I corrected a cashier’s error or I refused to tell untruths on someone else’s behalf.

I used to be offended by the term goody-two-shoes because my mind conjured up images of a schoolmarm who had zero sense of fun or risk-taking. Who wanted to be perceived in that manner? Not me!

Over time as I immersed myself in books and courses on personal development and leadership, the term “integrity” began to take on great significance. I saw the devastating effects a lack of integrity had on businesses, the economy, and communities (think Bernie Madoff, the Great Recession, and Fortune 500 companies that have fallen from grace). Certainly other factors such as greed played a role in these situations; yet, a lack of integrity ranks high on the list.

In 2009, when Fortune magazine reported schools were adding courses on integrity to MBA programs, I knew these schools saw the same lack-of-integrity effects I did.

Nowadays, when someone describes me as goody-two-shoes I realize what they are really saying is, I am a woman of integrity. If the term goody-two-shoes does not appeal to you, the next time someone describes you as such consider it a high compliment and keep moving forward.

Unleash your brilliance without boundaries,
Christine

___________________________
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Life is an Open Classroom

Life is an open classroom, though there is no curriculum to tell you which lessons to expect each week or even each day. Lessons are often unexpected and challenges are like pop quizzes that test your character as much as it builds it.

Different seasons in your life represent semesters in which new lessons are learned. There is no pass or fail, only a grade of "complete." Once the lesson is complete you move on to the next. Sometimes you may experience a similar lesson. Not because you've failed a previous one; instead, it's an opportunity for you to achieve advanced learning.

So, what do you do with all that knowledge? Apply what you've learned to your own life as well as to the lives of others. When you teach others you help them to learn and grow. In turn, you learn and grow as well. I find that as I teach others, it reinforces my knowledge and I may even acquire new learning. For example, the more I teach someone about humility, the more I am reminded to be humble. Through my experience with that individual I may learn to be more patient. I may even discover that I am stronger than I realize.

You are always learning. You are always growing wiser in life's open classroom.

What lessons have you learned and how have you applied them to your life and the lives of others? Share your comments below.

Unleash your brilliance without boundaries,
Christine

___________________________
Follow the Enrichment Blog: christineferguson.blogspot.com
Become a Fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/christinenferguson
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