If any of you follow me on social media, you will see that I spend most, if not all, mornings walking through a beautiful park with my puppy-dog Bru-Bear.
Firstly, I have done this for nearly 2 years now and I cannot describe how much this simple routine of mindfulness walking, connecting with nature, and watching my silly dog walk past mahoosive deer's has changed my life.
It is my morning place of sanctuary, of being at one with nature, the fresh air, mini-waterfall streams, squirrels, ducks, swans, herons and oh, did I mention the deer?!
Anyway, as I was walking this morning, my fitness watch buzzed as I hit my mile mark. I rarely consider this buzz on my wrist, but today I lifted my arm to see "20 minutes". I continued my stroll and allowed my mind to wander to Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco who, in 1999, ran a mile in 3:43 minutes.
I chuckled considering how Hicham would have ran close to 5/6 miles in the time I had plodded mindfully through one.
In that moment, I didn't compare or beat myself up for a slow walking time, I admired the amazing achievements of another human being - one that had trained over years to get to that point of victory. No doubt falling and learning along the way, but each time, focussed on improving their time little by little.
Now anyone reading this would find it silly, almost crazy, if I had began to compare myself to this wonder 3:43. There would be many opinions presented on why the thoughts were not even worth my energy. And really, when we are not in the same "field" or "profession" as the 3:43, it is easy to just walk on and admire.
But all too easily, in life and business, people are comparing their worlds of 20 minute lives/business to a 3:43 mile.
It could be a friend or family who appears to have it all "figured out".
Or a business owner who appears to have the "success, money, clients" that we would like.
Even worse if those businesses or individuals are younger than us and have done it in a far quicker time.
The cycle of initiated fear or jealousy or excuses and a whole dollop of shit bombs seems to pile down.
But just like we are able to see the silliness of comparing a 20 minute-plod with a 3:43 mile - the same can be true with the variety of times whereby comparison has reared up it's ugly side and stolen our joy.
More often than not, when working with clients, comparison is an unspoken message of:
- Feeling stuck and not knowing what to do.
- Lacking confidence and hiding behind excuses.
- Feeling unsupported and undervalued.
- Too much time on their hands.
- A lack of self-worth and self-belief.
- Years of mindset programming around self-sabotage.
The heavy emotions that arise from comparison are rarely about the individual or business that we grumble over and are more to do with a mirror being placed in front of us highlighting our own areas of work that we need to do in order to GROW!
So if this resonates with you, and you recognise yourself as someone constantly comparing and KNOWING that the bullet points above are real-potential points that you need to focus on BUT don't know where to start - then book in for a free coaching consultation.
The ONLY warning I will give is that if you want these things to change, you will need to change! Yup! You! It will take work, but one that I PROMISE YOU no one has ever regretted when working with me.
If you are ready to KICKSTART your life or business or team - give me a shout and book in. Let's get you closer to your own definition of a 3:43 - not one based on joe blogs on socials!
