Kickin’ Comparison to the Curb

Week two of the Inner Mean Girl (IMG) Cleanse has come and gone. I’ll be the first to admit, the past week has been a busy one for me and I wasn’t as present to the cleanse this week as I had been during Week 1 when gossip was the goner (I’m still working this one by the way). But it’s funny how the second my guard is down, my Inner Mean Girl throws a tantrum just to make sure I haven’t forgotten who she is — and that is exactly how it happened this week.

As a health and wellness coach and small business owner, I am constantly comparing myself to others in my industry when it comes to not only every aspect of my business be it my web site, my blog or my service offerings, but also when it comes to myself and who I am as a health coach. The pain of feeling like I don’t measure up to others can be debilitating and although in my heart I know that I need to get out of my own way, there are times when I just won’t budge and it can keep me blocked in a variety of ways from preventing me from hosting workshops to not attracting clients.

When The Comparison Queen creeps up, the practice of inspiration, appreciation and gratitude can do wonders to throw her off her throne. One of my fellow health coaches who I often find is the source of my comparison, is the type of person people want to be around. She lives her passion and has an enviable blog. One day last week I was feeling particularly weighed down by comparison, I popped her an email telling her how contagious her passion is and what a source of inspiration she is to me, even though I had never met her in person.

This one simple email immediately shifted my perception, lifted me back up and I’m sure it made her feel good – because who knows, maybe she suffers from comparison too. I try to do this as often as possible when I notice that I’m comparing myself to others. Maybe I don’t send an email everytime, it can be as simple as reciting a mantra or reminding myself of what is going well for me in my life or that wherever I am is exactly where I need to be (the inspiration for my blog). Also, I allow myself permission to be imperfect. Maybe I don’t catch myself everytime, but I’m getting better at doing so everyday.

How does your Comparison Queen set up roadblocks in your life?

Sneak peek at Week 3: Permission to live without obligations – be sure to check back!

I am participating in the Inner Mean Girl 40-day Cleanse as a Self-Love Ambassador. To thank me for my participation, I will receive a self-love gift from the founders of the Inner Mean Girl Reform School.