“Other people’s lives seem better than yours because you’re comparing their director’s cuts with your behind the scenes.”Evan Rauch

I think this is a brilliant quote, when I came across it the other day I thought wow I really like this quote. I totally believe that comparing ourselves to others is pointless, and can make us not only judgmental, but also unhappy. So when I saw this quote I just had to share it with you.

I would like to think now I am a grown up (on most levels anyway), that I no longer compare myself to others. Growing up though I was an expert at comparing myself to others, and trying to measure up to what I believe others expectations of me were. Gosh no wonder I was quite lost and lacked that inner sense of peace I craved so much. All I can say is thank goodness there was no social media around when I was an insecure teen.

The truth is though, I had little to be insecure about. I was pretty and popular, and it was easy to pretend I was happy and confident, but inside I felt like a little lost girl. I constantly compared myself to friends, and especially my older sister, and in my mind I never measured up. But of course I couldn’t be measured up against my sister and come out as equal, because the point I was missing is I didn’t have to be like her at all. I just had to be me!

I honestly believed if I was just being me, that no one would really like me. Sure they liked me as the funny, smart, pretty girl, but if they really got to know me, all parts of me, they would surely be disappointed and leave, wouldn’t they?

Turns out no they wouldn’t. Now don’t get me wrong my sister is awesome, she is beautiful, compassionate, and my best friend, but I am not her, and she is not me. In a million ways we are so similar, and in a million more ways we are very different. Just as I look up to her, she looks up to me, we bring out the best in each other. It took me the longest time to stop thinking I didn’t measure up to her, or to the many other people I was comparing myself to. I wasted endless energy trying to live up to what I thought others expected of me, and the truth is comparison will suck the joy right out of you!

It was a deep process of self reflection that led me to finally understand that my uniqueness is what truly makes me amazing. It is what those closest to me love about me. I spent a long time thinking my emotional side was what made me weak, I saw my imagination as a waste of time, I saw my opinions as different and thought I shouldn’t share them, and I saw my vulnerability as a fault, but my goodness I was so wrong!

The things I spent my whole life hating about myself and trying to change are now the things I love most about myself. My emotions, my vulnerability is what makes me compassionate, it is what makes others feel they can come to me and feel supported and understood. It is my imagination that guides my creative writing, that makes me talk in silly voices to my kids, and tell them stories where there are no limits. And as for my opinions that I thought I should never speak of, I realised that these are what make me unique and give me a voice of my very own.

In may was I could say I regret the years I wasted comparing myself to others and holding my true self back, but then again it is the hard times, and the crap we put ourselves through that shaped us into the people we have become. I am perfectly imperfect, and these days I am more than ok with that!

I truly believe when we embrace our so called imperfections, and we we embrace our vulnerabilities, we become stronger and more beautiful with every passing day.  What do you believe?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to comment below, tweet, or email me.

 

It is now time for this weeks Living Fearlessly Authentic Round Up!

Each week I feature a roundup of my favourite photos from the Instagram Community #livingfearlesslyauthentic, here are my favourites this week,

 

 

These gorgeous photos were shared by;

@surrey_mama.       @claudine.fontana.

@lifeatcookscabin.       @helloarchie.co.

 

Thank you so much to everyone who joins in, and supports this community! 

If you would like a chance to be featured just tag your Instagram pics with #livingfearlesslyauthentic! You can follow my insta @macglanville.

 #mg is LIVE!!

I know rules can kind of be annoying, but please follow them it makes it fair on everyone who joins in, thanks xx

Rules are as follows; one post per person please, please make sure you share, and comment on as many posts linked up as you can, after all that is what linky love is all about. 

To be part of this link up you must at least comment on this post, the post linked prior to yours, and at least one other, thanks. When commenting and tweeting please use #mg and if you use @macglnaville I will always retweet!

We have a new Rule. Check out this weeks featured post by Corinne ‘living life in moments‘  if anyone hasn’t read please stop by and have a read and leave her a comment, or share her post, thank you.

please also make sure you display my badge that is below, thanks xx

 

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Thanks for joining me, love Mackenzie xx

 

 

congratulations to Corinne you are this weeks featured #mg blogger! If anyones hasn’t read ‘living life in moments‘  please stop by and have a read.

Please feel free to grab the badge below.

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