What’s Behind The Scenes?

First of all, I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for being your best self. For moving forward. For remaining strong. Sometimes it’s not easy to go through life, venturing into the unknown and dodging unexpected bullets. Sometimes it requires a huge amount of strength to get through even the best of days, and for that I say thank you. You are doing an amazing job.

Definitely, life can be challenging at times. But what you’re doing every day is magnificent. You’re moving beyond obstacles. You’re working on being kinder. You’re trying new things. Now, I do understand that it may be hard to notice this. Sometimes you can’t help but shake your head and think "I’m really not all that productive." Trust me, I’ve been there. But there are tiny things operating below the surface that sometimes you might not be able to notice; like how you get up ten minutes earlier to buy your friend a coffee, or you send a kind email to a coworker, or you decide to read an article that you find interesting. It’s those small things that make such a huge difference. They really do.

And during this wonderful life, you must acknowledge even these smaller efforts that you’re putting in. Even when they may be easy to miss. Remember, nothing big is accomplished without several steps spent getting there. They are just as meaningful. Just as important. Most of life is composed not of grand outcomes (for the most part) but of those little bits and pieces that make life memorable. Those moments that make every day special.

And because so much beauty in life hides below the surface, looking at someone else’s big picture may not be as accurate as we may tend to think it is. This is where self comparison comes in. There are so many things happening below the surface that we cannot always see. Someone who appears to be insanely successful (in one way or another) may be feeling completely empty on the inside. This is not always the case by any means, but it can be possible. Not all that appears a certain way is true, which can be very deceptive when it comes to influencing our own self evaluation.

When we compare ourselves, sometimes we tend to draw up imaginary stories about why we ourselves haven’t gotten to a particular level in life that we’ve conjured up. We can bring ourselves down so low to the point where we feel terrible. And this can be a very hard spot to get out of, especially when we don’t have faith in ourselves and our abilities. Sound familiar at all? It’s all based upon these dots that we tend to connect in our heads when we compare. Pictures that may not be completely accurate, yet we allow ourselves to believe that they are. And each of these big pictures that we make up in our minds often lack something; the small things that are operating below the surface. The meaningful pieces that make life special. And so the finished product may appear large and grandeur, but is missing the details. The fine print. The final touch. And ultimately, may appear completely different.

So please, instead try to focus on your own inner, beautiful self and those baby steps that you’re making forward each and every day. Whether it’s to learn something new, become more caring, or complete a task, you are always able to move forward in one way or another. Don’t look towards others and compare, for not every piece of their picture can be seen. Instead, focus on yourself and how you can work on becoming the best person that you can be. But also, don’t forget to appreciate the effort that you’re putting in, for life is certainly no easy ride. You are doing your own thing, and what you’re doing is absolutely wonderful.

Please take care of yourself,

Nicole Addison

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