In most cases, when we evaluate ourselves against the rest of the business world, we tend to compare ourselves to those above us.
We might look at people who are making more money than us, those we perceive to have a better job or those we aspire to be like. In doing this, we will always conclude we are not as successful. We will always be a notch below where we think we should be.
The real deception is there are always going to be people who run larger companies, make more money and are deemed more successful. No matter how far you move up the ladder of success, there’s always going to be someone on the rung ahead of you.
It is a race that cannot be won, and there’s a steep price to pay for entering it. We will never have a real sense of purpose if we use this as our barometer of success.
Here are five steps to help put things in perspective:
1. Many people ask if what they are doing today is what they should be doing. The answer is yes. If this weren’t true, they wouldn’t be in that job. You are where you are supposed to be, so quit wondering and start working.
2. Do the best job you can in whatever you do.
3. Do not compare yourself to others. This only causes ungratefulness and focuses on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. This causes envy and jealousy.
4. Be thankful for the position you are in. This isn’t always easy, and some days or years are better than others, but keep in mind that more than 2 billion people in the world live on less than one dollar a day. While many of your problems may seem severe, take a step back and re-examine them.
There are so many people that go each day without the basic necessities like food and water. Is what you’re worrying about really a crisis? It is very important to always keep things in perspective.
5. The goal is to achieve a sense of contentment and happiness. When that happens, a sense of purpose is realized. You will start to enjoy the fruits of your labor. This is a sign of strength, not of weakness. It doesn’t mean you are not ambitious, just that you are enabling yourself to enjoy the ride.
These steps will help you live in the present. Too often, people are thinking about the future. They spend too much time focusing on their next pay increase, promotion or career change. Just because you’re not on the top rung of the ladder doesn’t mean you haven’t been successful.
Slow down and enjoy some of your accomplishments. If we are always living for tomorrow, we can never really experience the true joy of today. Fred Koury ([email protected]) is president and CEO of SBN Magazine.
