Do you believe that your are lovely just the way you are?
When you encounter someone else who you regard as more beautiful, more accomplished, more successful, more popular…do you feel overshadowed by them?
Not too long ago, I was struck by these words of St Therese of Lisieux:
“The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm.
If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”
They are words I wish I knew long ago. That life is, in fact, more lovely when each of us abandon our collective desire to rank ourselves against one another.
For the most part, I think I do this subconsciously. But I do it nonetheless.
I evaluate my self, my worth, my loveliness based off of everyone I encounter.
- ”Wow they really command a room – I wish I could do that better…”
- ”Wow they’ve really done something with their talents – am I wasting mine?”
- ”Wow they have the most incredible and natural artistic gifts – I can’t compare even if I tried.”
What about you? Do you ever have evaluations of yourself vs another person tick off in your brain?
What would it look like if instead we thought:
- ”Wow they really command a room.”
- ”Wow they’ve done incredible things with their talents.”
- ”Wow they have the most incredible and natural artistic gifts.”
And just stopped there… before the added comparison, before the added judgment whichever way it falls…
What if we just appreciate them for who they are and ourselves for who we are and find ways we all can fit?
Then can you imagine how lovely spring could become?
