Get Out of the Rat Race

Paying attention solely to what others are doing will leave you unsatisfied. Yup, I said it! If you choose to live like this, you will always feel that someone has a little more or is doing more of the things you would like to do. How are you even measuring your progress if someone else is constantly moving the needle?

Comparison is the thief of joy and if you already know this, you must start aligning your thoughts with this mantra.

1. Show appreciation for what you currently have.

Life is a journey and while you’re on your way to your next checkpoint, time can appear to be moving slowly. When this happens, we can often devalue the things we currently have in our possession. Are you grateful for the meaningful relationships you have? Are you appreciative of being able to financially provide for your family? If we can’t be thankful for what we currently have, why would anyone trust us with more. This is not a question, but rather a statement to ponder.

2. Set your own goals, don’t let society set them for you.

We live in a world where social media will have you thinking that life is peaches and cream. Everyone falls upon rough days, but not everyone is going to show it. You will never know how much time, work, and effort someone has put in before they show you their highlights. You only see the results of their labor and not the labor itself.

It’s literally you against you. When you set out to be better than you were yesterday, no one is in control of the needle but you. You have the power to decide for yourself what the goal is and how you plan on accomplishing it. As the old folks like to say, “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” Disclaimer, no harm to animals have been done, but you get the point. You set the goal, not the people you may unintentionally idolize.

3. Challenge those unhelpful thoughts about where you are now.

Words can fester and we give life to words when they come out of our mouths and even when they come up in our minds. Talk back to these thoughts and reframe your mindset by speaking positively about the journey you are on. For example, if you are feeling so unhappy about the job you are currently working, think of one thing that you are gaining from the experience. Are you building a network of people who have similar mindsets? Are you earning another certification? Are you building your resume by having this experience under your belt? Are you building character, faith, resilience, or patience? Think long and hard. When you can fact check unhelpful thoughts, you will be able to easily exit the rat race that is occurring in your head.

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Journal Exploration:

Write down 7 things you could say or tell yourself when you speak unkindly about where you are in life.