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Comparison is the Thief of Joy
50 Plays1 year ago
In this episode I share an example from my own experience recently, on how easy it can be to let comparison creep in and potentially hold you back from stepping into your power.
I am constantly expressing how much I believe that we all have our unique thread to add to the collective tapestry but I too have moments where I too fall into the trap of comparing myself and letting fear of not being enough creep in and stop me in my tracks.
But I have also developed skills, practices and habits to get myself back out from the little dark nook I find myself hiding in as I contemplate whether or not I am truly worthy… and then step out into the light again and do what I’m here to do & serve how I am here to serve.
I also share three simple tips on what you can do to help yourself out of a little dark nook that you might find yourself in, comparing yourself to others feeling like you may not be enough.
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Intro & Outro Music: Shaman Dance by slavamusic
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Transcript
Introduction and Personal Mission
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you desire to turn your passion into income? Connect with other creative souls who also dance to the beat of their own drum?
00:00:08
Speaker
I'm Marie Nicole and I'm devoted to combining beauty, uniqueness and connection in everyday living experiences. As a creative professional and Dharma coach, I help people connect to the truth of who they are and facilitate them in embodying their uniqueness. It is my hope in this podcast that I inspire you to live your life on your terms and earn your income through being uniquely you.
00:00:33
Speaker
After all, it's the unique thread that we each contribute to the collective tapestry that creates the whole.
The Impact of Comparison on Potential
00:00:44
Speaker
You may have heard the phrase, comparison is the thief of joy. In today's episode, I want to share an example from my own experience recently of how easy it can be to let comparison creep in and potentially hold you back from stepping out into your power.
00:01:02
Speaker
I've recently taken on a role as a digital guide for a program funded by the Federal Government and it's been rolled out through several organisations across the nation and it's a program supporting small business in digitalising their businesses, offering workshops, webinars and one-on-one coaching sessions with someone like me. Establishing a digital plan in the six main pillar areas to do with building your online presence, your social media, your digital marketing,
00:01:31
Speaker
and your digital security and so forth. The segment of this offering that myself and another digital guide have been contracted for is to serve small businesses within the rural and remote areas of New South Wales in a range of regions like South East and Tablelands, Riverina, Central West, just to name a
Experiencing Imposter Syndrome
00:01:50
Speaker
few. We've been in training over the last week or so and as a part of our preparation we needed to submit a profile photo in a blue.
00:01:58
Speaker
So I visited the existing page on the main website with photos and blurbs of other digital advisors who were already listed, who've commenced their role a few months ago in Sydney. And I was really only looking for an example of, say, the word count and the writing style and the style of photos they were using for consistency's sake. And as I started reading their blurbs, I suddenly felt the onset of imposter syndrome creep in.
00:02:28
Speaker
as I am not a best seller and I have not been featured in a business journal and I have not worked for Australia's most loved brands and I really had to stop myself comparing and looking at what I am not and stay tuned into what unique thread I bring to the collective tapestry of this program offering.
Career and Skills in Small Business Support
00:02:49
Speaker
As someone who has spent my entire career owning, operating and supporting small businesses in a city, coastal and rural location, I've got a pretty diverse skill set and experience set behind me. And with my range of business experience from being a service based business through photography and coaching,
00:03:09
Speaker
to creating and selling handcrafted products in person and online, operating a bricks and mortar store with an integrated atelier and creative co-working space. There's quite a range that I actually have done and do have to offer. I've also completed graduate studies in collective entrepreneurship and was awarded
00:03:30
Speaker
national finalist in the global business plan competition through the university that I completed that course and I've taken Marie Folio's B school and I've also become a certified Dharma coach which on top of that I've taken on numerous courses to sharpen my digital skills in order to stay on top of the continual shifts and changes in that space and yet here I was comparing myself and seeing myself as potentially inadequate to fulfill the role
00:04:01
Speaker
And so despite the fact that I have spent years supporting other small business owners from our region and beyond, have created a portal for a connection between fellow creative professionals establishing and building their rural based small business through my commercial space, which was also established based on the fact that I wanted to nurture small business in our region and beyond.
00:04:24
Speaker
I've also been an active member in our local business chamber, continuing to foster relationships that help bridge that gap between small business and their local government support network and digital connections with customers within the region and beyond.
Overcoming Comparison Struggles
00:04:40
Speaker
So having experienced all of this firsthand and how critical it is to have digital tools and skills for a rural based business, I was still feeling like
00:04:51
Speaker
I was inadequate in comparison. So it's easy to get pulled into the vortex of comparison. And I really had to hone in on what my unique strengths and skills are and focus on the fact that it was not just a program to support large corporations and big name businesses,
00:05:10
Speaker
It's based on serving the little people doing their best to earn their living, utilising their unique gifts, skills and passion, just like I've been. Which is exactly where my focus has been all these years, so I too have value to contribute to the program with my experience in the trenches.
00:05:30
Speaker
I've often had people say to me that my digital presence is something that they aspire to creating for themselves and have even been asked numerous times if I would consider working on their digital presence as a freelancer. But that is not really where my passion lies. I do it to the standard that I do for my business because I am passionate about reaching the objectives and I hold myself to a fairly high standard.
00:05:55
Speaker
And while I do very much enjoy creating content, part of the reason behind that is because of the impact that the content will have in serving the people that I wish to serve through my offerings. Engaging with clients and customers is a big part of what brings me joy, not just sitting behind a screen and creating the content,
00:06:17
Speaker
So as a digital guide, I will get the opportunity to support others thrive in their own unique businesses. And that excites me more than doing the work for them.
00:06:28
Speaker
I share all of this as I am constantly expressing how much I believe that we all have our unique thread to add to the collective tapestry, but I too have moments where I fall into the trap of comparing myself and letting the fear of not being enough creep in and stop me in my tracks.
00:06:48
Speaker
but I have also developed skills and practices and habits to get myself back out of that little dark nook that I find myself hiding in as I contemplate whether or not I am truly worthy. And then step out into the light again and do what I'm here to do to serve how I'm here to serve. So here are three simple points that I want to leave with you on what you can do right now to help yourself get out of that dark nook. If you find yourself comparing
00:07:17
Speaker
yourself to others and feeling like you're not quite enough. Number one is ask yourself what others compliment you on. In relation to the area of inadequacy that you may be feeling, for me one of those things was reminding myself of just how much I receive compliments on my digital presence. Being told that I have an Instagram feed and website that others aspire to creating for their businesses, that's a pretty high compliment.
00:07:44
Speaker
Number two, remind yourself that quality has more power than quantity. For example, if you find yourself comparing the numbers of your Instagram followers to someone else and think about the fact that their high number of followers may not actually translate into converting followers into clients and customers.
00:08:02
Speaker
And if you're running a business, the results you get from the effort that you put in is far more important than the number of followers you have. There's more power in having 1,000 engaged and invested followers than 3,000 who follow you for inspiration and entertainment, but don't actually really invest in your business. Number three, think about the impact you have on the people directly in your field rather than the glory of being featured in print.
00:08:32
Speaker
I've actually been featured in many magazines and used to keep a press portfolio on display to demonstrate my worth in my commercial space. And while that was impressive to the people that were impressed by it, they were not necessarily the people I was serving with my unique gifts and talents.
00:08:49
Speaker
Often the ones who invest or have invested in my offerings do so because they feel connected to my energy, my way of being that makes them feel seen, heard and supported. And the fact that I connect them to someone who can help them with their need because I put so much energy into nurturing connections and supportive
00:09:09
Speaker
networks so when someone has a challenge I can often refer them to such and such who could help them with their unique set of skills that is specific to their challenge. So taking the time to really look at the impact you make in your small neck of the woods is so much more valuable than focusing on what you don't have to boast about that has a broader more public reach.
00:09:35
Speaker
Everyone impacts the people in their direct field in their own special way.
Invitation to Lunar Cycle Gatherings
00:09:41
Speaker
Now if you feel like you could use further support and would like a coach to guide you through building on these skills for yourself, create practices and habits that help you move out of your little dark nook so you can step further out into the light and serve those you are here to serve. Reach out for a connection call and let's see what magic we can create together.
00:10:01
Speaker
or consider joining me in my eight week lunar cycle gatherings online. This will be a group coaching offering where you'll have the opportunity to develop practices to create more flow and harmony in your life using the natural cycles of nature. You don't have to do this alone. You can share the experience with other lunar cycle journeyers who will also be reconnecting with their natural rhythm right alongside of you.
00:10:30
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You'll find more details about the Lunar Cycle Gathering's offering and coaching services on the Creators Nest website, and there are also links in the show notes. So until next week, remember that comparison is the thief of joy. So instead, stay connected to the essence of who you are, how you are here to serve, and tune into your unique thread that you contribute to the collective tapestry.
00:10:56
Speaker
Thank you so much for your time. I know how valuable it is and I hope you got value out of listening to this podcast. If you are looking for a coach to support and guide you through your own unique journey of creating a life you love, then reach out for a connection call. And if you'd like to connect with other creative souls in person by joining us at a workshop or retreat or to book a unique shopping experience here at Creators Nest, I run those by appointment. So check out the website for more details. The link is in the show notes.
00:11:26
Speaker
Oh, and please leave a review. I'd love to hear any insights or inspirations that were activated in you from this podcast. And I look forward to drumming, dancing or soaring alongside of you.