THE POWER OF SELF-DISCOVERY

Find Your Own Sauce

I have been there, you have been there, we’ve all been there. Scrolling through social media, you see a friend’s perfectly curated travel photos, and suddenly your own weekend of laundry and binge-watching feels… ordinary. It’s like we’re all in this huge bake-off. Someone’s creating a towering, gluten-free, huge cake, and you’re just a simple chocolate chip cookie. You start to think, “Maybe I should be a pie? Should I have more nuts or eggs or chocolates?” You spend so much time comparing your own unique and amazing recipe to everyone else’s elaborate desserts.

But here’s the thing: the world wants you, in all your glorious, perfectly imperfect, chocolate-chip-cookie-ness. LOL.

Stop comparing yourself. Everyone is on a different path. 

The Tyranny of “Should”

Comparison is a thief of joy. It not only steals your joy; it also negatively affects your emotional well-being, disrupts your peace of mind, and compromises your overall health. Comparison whispers a list of “shoulds” in your ears: “You should be more successful,” “You should have a better job,” “You should give this vibe,” “Act this way, speak that way.” This constant measuring of your life against others creates a cycle of discontent. You become so busy trying to live up to an external standard that you lose sight of the unique person God created you to be.

In 2 Corinthians 10:12, Paul writes, “For we dare not class ourselves with or compare ourselves to those who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, they are not wise” (NKJV). This is a direct warning against what you probably do every day. When you compare, you’re not being wise; you’re basically looking at someone else’s test and wondering why your answers don’t match. 

God’s plan for your life is a bespoke creation, not a one-size-fits-all. In Galatians 6:4-5, Paul says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to others, for each one should carry their own load” (NIV). Your “load” is your life, your gifts, your experiences and your journey. It’s a weight meant for you and you alone. You’ll find it impossible to carry your own purpose while also trying to measure someone else’s. 

How do you break free from this cycle and begin to embrace your unique sauce?

1. Acknowledge the lie of perfection: The perfect lives you see online are an illusion. Everyone has struggles, fears, and moments of doubt. Recognising this helps you extend grace to yourself.

2. Focus on your strengths: What are you naturally good at? What makes you feel alive? This means understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Spend time recognising your God-given talents and passions. Don’t cancel them because they don’t look like someone else’s. Maybe your strength isn’t public speaking but deep, empathetic listening. Perhaps it’s not being in the public eye but killing it behind the scenes.

3. Find your rhythm: Your rhythm is your pace. Someone else’s path may be quick and easy, while another’s might be slow and thoughtful. Stop trying to keep up with another person’s pace. Find a rhythm that works just fine for you. See Ecclesiastes 3:1

4. Practise gratitude: A heart of gratitude is the perfect antidote to comparison. When you focus on what you have and who you are, there’s less room to mourn what you lack.

Self-discovery isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. It’s the daily choice to stop comparing and start appreciating. It means defining success on your own terms, not on the terms of what “should be.”

When you embrace your unique path, you stop seeing others’ successes as a threat and start seeing them as an inspiration. You begin to celebrate their victories, knowing that your own are just as valuable and unfolding in their own time. So, stop comparing your chapter one to someone else’s chapter five. Your journey is yours alone, and it’s time to start savouring it!