Summer Business Affirmations: Be Happy Where You Are!
If you've been following along with my summer mantras, you already know what’s coming and why I’ve been on this mindset kick. But if this is the first one you’ve come across, you can get caught up with the others here:
Today, as we come to the end of our summer affirmations series, we're adding one more to the list: Be Happy Where You Are!
One of the easiest things to do as a business owner is compare yourself to everyone else.
We all go online to see what our competition is doing, but then suddenly you’re comparing yourself to their posts, their reels, their events, their new course or services, and it’s so easy to say ‘why didn’t I think of that!?’ and beat yourself up for not getting there first.
Social media is EVERYWHERE, so these kinds of mean internal comparisons happen without us really realizing we’re doing it most of the time.
It's easy to look at someone else's highlight reel and feel like you're falling behind.
Okay, picture this: you open Instagram to post a photo and end up scrolling your feed for a little bit before you get back to work. And then you look up a second later and suddenly an hour is gone, and you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole of thinking your business isn’t growing fast enough, your brand isn’t polished enough, your photos aren’t professional enough, etc., etc., etc. The list goes on.
We’ve all done it. I’ve done it too!
But social media only shows us a small percentage of someone’s business and how successful they are!
We don’t see the days they’re hunting down new clients or the sleep they miss while getting a new series of blogs and videos ready to go. If they don’t publish about their own self-doubt, you would NEVER know about it!
It's easy to look at someone else's highlight reel and feel like you're falling behind. But I’ve learnt over the years that it’s best to stop and remind myself that one of the best things I can do for both my business and my mental health is to be happy where I am while continuing to work toward where I want to go.
3 Ways to Interrupt the Comparison When It Starts
Knowing the comparison trap exists doesn't stop it from happening every time you log into your social media accounts. Here's what I try to do when I catch myself starting to feel like I’m less than the people I’m following online:
Name the feeling out loud. The second I notice I'm comparing my business to someone else's, I say to myself, "This is comparison, and it’s not real!!" It sounds small, but naming what you’re feeling takes away some of its power.
Close the app and set a timer. I give myself five minutes to walk away from the screen before I do anything else, whether that's taking a snack break or stepping outside. That short time away is usually enough to break away from the negative thoughts.
Go back to my own numbers. I look at what I've actually done this month, not what someone else posted this morning. A client I helped, a task I finished, a review I received. My own progress is the only measuring stick that actually applies to my business!!
When I’m ready, I keep going.
Where You Are Right Now
This affirmation isn't just about social media. But it’s an easy place to start. Being happy about where you are is really about being grateful for all the work you’ve done so far!
The clients you have now were once clients you dreamed of working with.
The business you have today was once just an idea.
The experience you have now came from years of hard work and dedication.
The next time you catch yourself comparing your content or your business to someone else's, think about the people you've helped, the projects you've completed, and how far you've actually gotten.
Start Small, Starting Today
Let's start with a few small things you can try online the next time it creeps in:
Mute or unfollow one account that always sends you down the comparison rabbit hole.
Write down one thing you did this week that you're proud of, even something small like answering every client message the same day.
Set a timer for five minutes the next time you catch yourself scrolling and comparing. When it goes off, close the app and go do one task on your list instead!
Small steps like these won't completely stop you from comparing yourself to others, but they make it a lot easier to catch yourself before it takes over your whole day.
I Am Happy Where I Am, and so Are You!
Be happy where you are. Keep working toward your goals. Keep learning and growing, and give yourself credit for the business you've already built.
The next time comparison creeps in, use one of the steps above to interrupt it before it takes over your day.
Thank you for joining me for a summer filled with business affirmations! I hope you found them helpful as you enjoy your summer.