Think On These Things...

I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to complete this, but I was determined to hop on the bandwagon and design my own chalkboard art. The chalkboard in my kitchen has been empty for a few weeks and it really needed some TLC. I wanted to find a quote that would be a helpful reminder to me everyday, but I also wanted to design something original. I'm really a big copycat, so it took me forever to come up with this graphic. All I can say is that next time it will be better and quicker!

In junior high and high school, I was always slightly jealous of my friends who could draw those awesome doodles on their notes. If only I could make my notes look that amazing....be that creative! How do they even think to draw that cool little doodly thingy? At first, I would blame my lame doodles on not having the coolest and latest gel pens {remember gel pens???}, but then, I would start verbally beating myself up with thoughts like..."I'm not as talented as they are" and "why are they so much smarter than me?" or I would be so disappointed that art wasn't my strong suit.

Well, even though those days of being jealous of my friends' doodles are tucked deep into the archives of my brain {along with all the awkward photos and embarrassing moments of those years}, it's crazy how those feelings of jealousy and inadequacy affected me. Because you know what? What started out as a small thing {wishful thoughts of how I longed to be more artsy}, began to subtly affect my friendships with the very people of whose gifts I was envious. I would actually get frustrated when they did better than me in art class! I found myself thinking "it's just because they have better art supplies than I do." Looking back, I see that the {silly} things that consumed my thinking kept me from cultivating the gifts that God had given me! And it also kept me from being happy. People are attracted to happy people. I was not attractive.

OK, my story is kind of silly and seems really ridiculous, right? I mean, who really gets in a tizzy about doodles? It's kind of embarrassing to admit really. Maybe art isn't your thing. Maybe it is sports, parenting, music, technology, photography, cooking, gardening, crafting, blogging, etc.

We cannot measure ourselves against others. We will be miserable. Trust me. I know.

We tend to get consumed with what others think about us, but what's crazy is that they rarely do. 
BAM. Get that? People don't think about you as much as you think they do. People aren't thinking about how you measure up to them {unless they are very small-minded and then it doesn't matter anyways}.

I mean, as adults, we have huge problems like...
blog stats...
keeping up with the drama on Facebook...
Checking our repins and number of followers on Pinterest...
Beefing up our profile on LinkedIn...
Tweeting all the twits - I mean "tweets"...
and making our life look {more} AWESOME {than it really is} via Instagram.

Now THESE are major issues! And I am guilty.

So, how can we be content and happy? With all the social media that sucks us into it's time wasting vortex, it's easy to think we know how wonderful our friends' lives are and get discouraged when we see that our life doesn't seem to measure up. Are you beating yourself up and comparing? It's easy to do, but we have to remember that everyone's gift isn't art. We doodle in our own unique way.

If you find yourself jealous and upset when others seem to "get things handed to them" then stop right there and check yourself. We are to "Rejoice with those who rejoice...!" {Romans 12:15}. Isn't that hard to do, though? But hey, life is isn't fair. No really, it isn't, so we need to stop pouting like it should be.

The whole chapter of Romans 12 is a wonderful place to start if you've experienced or are experiencing  feelings of inadequacy. Another verse that I'm choosing to dwell on is Philippians 4:8...that's why I put it in plain sight on my kitchen chalkboard.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

We decide every moment what thoughts we are going to let stay around in our head. We can choose to dwell on our weaknesses {or others' weaknesses!} or we can focus on things that are true, noble, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable.

I don't know about you, but I'm choosing to "think on these things."

{connect with Emily here}