COMPARISON – THE ROOT OF EVIL. HAPPINESS – THE ROOT OF PROGRESS.
Over the last four years, ever since my partner & I opened up our boutique in Downtown Petoskey, I have come in contact with so many women who showed their insecurity, lack of confidence, fear, and other destructive emotions, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in one way or another when it came to their body. All the time, I hear: “I wish I were skinnier, I would wear these clothes,” “I used to be 100 pounds back in the old days, and now I am…” or “I have to wear sleeves, my skin is no longer looking good.” In many cases, I hear a note of sorrow in their voices and notice that their focus is on comparing themselves to their younger selves, but more often to other women, and not in a positive way. Enter the root of evil – comparison of self to others.
Comparing yourself to other people is a dead-end road – we all know it. If not, I am happy to explain further privately or in my next blog if there is a request. Normally, I would have nothing against comparing yourself to a younger version of yourself, though in this case, the comparison was against the present self. Instead of giving themselves points for their life achievements, these women were debiting themselves, leaving their interpretation of who they are today with a negative balance. As if body size is the only criterion that defines you as a successful woman or human!!!
I guess, good for those who are semi-tall, semi-proportionate, and pretty according to today’s social norms. But what about those born only to be 5’ 4” tall? What about those who were born without limbs? That’s when destructive ideas start to attack your mind. They make you believe you were deprived at birth, creating resentment. Resentment that grows into other physical deviations, including weight gain (the enemy of the human body) and various diseases. For many, the true meaning of who we are has been “lost in translation.” And with that, this evil cycle of self-resentment and comparison is so typical that it has become a norm.
“What gives me a right to discuss this subject?” – one may ask. Well… To start, I can certainly understand every one of those women, as I have been in those same shoes for many years. Comparing myself to others, admiring them for good looks, skills, and talents. While at the same time, bashing myself. I put others on a pedestal over my own persona – this is ludicrous!! And to add on top – my professional qualities of mental genetics specialist.
We spend so much time worrying about what other people may think or say about us, worrying about our looks, that many have light or heavy face treatments that include plastic surgery, body treatments, corrections, etc. We focus so much on the physical aspect that we forget what our own individualized purpose is here in these bodies. Many don’t even know and don’t care to know what that is. They live day-by-day in survival mode like it is Groundhog’s Day. We forget that we possess a soul and mind – the most essential parts of our essence.
Increasing your quality of love for your loved ones and strangers, honesty and faithfulness, the ability to stay true to yourself and express yourself freely, without fear of punishment, judgment, or any other kind of negative post-effect; increasing your productivity and quality of involvement in everything you do, purposefulness, etc. – these criteria have been pushed aside until the law of retribution (also known as karma) faces you. Then we start thinking how crazy and evil this world is, forgetting that we are the reason for everything happening to us.
Many of these life experiences are the result of genetic predispositions that have already formed individual laws of existence or patterns of behavior. But as long as we choose to follow society’s impulses without taking individual responsibility for ourselves, our results in life (not blaming other people, government, etc.), we’ll continue to stay in the same existing laws, taking away the most important from ourselves – the beauty of life’s progress.
True happiness is a result of life’s progress. It starts when we are ready to be honest with ourselves and look at our life from a different perspective. There is no room for 100% happiness when outside factors (weather and road conditions, other people and their opinion, level of productivity, measured “success,” state of personal possessions, health, etc.) have more effect on your present self than your own consciousness. Veritable happiness is consistent and unshakable. It is a part of our true existence!
We encourage you to take a test as it will be a great indicator of your level of happiness and reflection upon yourself:
- In the next 7-day period, carefully pay attention to your mood and try to answer honestly: “Am I truly happy right now? Am I fully satisfied?” There is no “Maybe.” It is only “Yes” or “No.” Anything that is not “Yes” is an automatic “No.”
- If “No,” analyze your current state and try to find a reason for your being upset, down, or unhappy.
- “I don’t know” is not an answer. We all do. Honesty is key.
- Address the issue at the source.
Don’t fall victim to stalling out your own personal progress – happiness & satisfaction are a choice, not a lucky gift. There’s always room to grow and love ourselves more – don’t stop now. Uproot the habit of comparison and install a practice of veritable happiness in all areas of your life!
With much love,
Alona K.
Good morning, can I buy the books of Teutsch in English from you? Especially the book about the principle of relativity of human behavior.