Monday: Reflection

Remember when we were in school and the teacher would tell us to keep our eyes on our own paper?

I've been thinking about that lately.

Because I think it's something we could all benefit from practicing as adults.

It's so easy to look around and see what everyone else is doing.

What they're accomplishing.

What opportunities they're getting.

What their relationships look like.

How they're raising their kids.

What they're doing with their time.

And before we know it, we're no longer paying attention to our own lives. We're looking at someone else's and evaluating ours against theirs.

I know I can do this.

And what I've noticed is that when I'm focused on what someone else is doing, I'm not actually giving my own life the attention it deserves.

I'm not asking myself what I want.

What matters to me.

What I'm working toward.

Or how I want to show up.

Instead, I'm measuring myself against someone else's experience.

And the thing is, we're not all taking the same test.

We have different circumstances, different priorities, different challenges, and different things we want from our lives.

So this week, I'm practicing keeping my eyes on my own paper.

When I notice myself looking at what someone else is doing and comparing, I'm going to gently bring my attention back to myself.

Not to criticize myself for comparing.

Just to notice that I've wandered away from what matters to me.

And to ask:

What am I doing with my own life right now?

What deserves my attention?

What do I want to put my energy toward?

Because the more I can stay connected to my own life, the easier it becomes to appreciate what's happening in someone else's.

Their accomplishments can be theirs.

Their happiness can be theirs.

And I can get back to living my life.

This week's practice: Notice when your attention moves from your own life to someone else's. Without judging yourself, gently bring it back.

You don't have to stop noticing what other people are doing.

Just remember to keep your eyes on your own paper.

Join Me Live on Wednesday

This Wednesday, November 11, at 12 p.m. EST, we'll have our 30-minute live practice call.

We'll begin with a meditation, and then I'll talk a little about this month's theme of sympathetic joy—practicing being happy for others, even when comparison or jealousy comes up.

I'd also love to answer your questions.

If there's a situation you're working through, or something you'd like me to address during our time together, simply hit reply  and send me your question. I'll bring your questions into our conversation on Wednesday.

Looking forward to being together!