Embrace Your Unique Design: Women Overcoming the Comparison Trap

🌟 New Podcast Alert! 🌟 Dive into our latest episode where we explore how God makes each of us unique and how women can overcome the comparison trap through faith. Discover practical steps to embrace your individuality and flourish in your God-given purpose. 🎧✨

#UniqueInGod #FaithOverFear #WomenOfFaith #GodsPlan #OvercomeComparison #EmbraceYourself #ComparisonFreeChallenge

Transcript

Welcome to the The Positive Growth Doctor Podcast®! I am your host, Dr. Christina Wilson. 

What is it like for you when you get stuck in the comparison trap? 

You know what I’m talking about. You’re scrolling on social media, or you attend the reunion, or you have that family member who pulls the comparison load on your behalf. You’re like, thanks! 

You are not alone, and it doesn’t feel good. I talk about this often because it is so common, and it is harmful to women. In fact, it steals our peace. 

It creeps up on all of us because it is part of our human experience in life. However, how long it sticks around, is entirely up to you. 

As a neurodivergent, I have always felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. You don’t have to be neurodivergent to feel this way. Our society encourages comparison, unfortunately. 

However, God doesn’t encourage this. In fact, it is the opposite. He made each of us in a unique and beautiful way. 

God never makes mistakes. He has a plan for each of us, and we are wonderfully made. 

I love the Psalm verse that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. In fact, there is no one like you!

Romans 12:2 goes deeper and says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

In this episode, expect to uncover how God uniquely designed each of us and how women can break free from the comparison trap. 

Through scriptural insights and practical steps, you’ll learn to transform your mindset and embrace your individuality, leading to a more fulfilled and joyful life.

Find the full transcript for this episode on your favorite podcast app. 

Please share the podcast with other women to help them grow on their journey through life. 

Don’t just invite your friends. Extend your reach by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I appreciate you! 

The Comparison Trap: How It Steals Our Joy and Deviates from God's Plan

When I say “comparison trap,” I am referring to the habit of measuring our lives, achievements, and worth against others. This often leads to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction.

Comparison can lead to negative emotions such as jealousy, low self-esteem, and anxiety, which hinders personal growth and spiritual well-being. 

In essence, this impacts our spiritual growth, which is important. We are meant to continually grow.

When I was young, I struggled with this. There were magazines, such as Cosmopolitan, that portrayed women in ways that were not realistic. 

They also portrayed a worldly ideal rather than that of God’s plan for us. They planted seeds of doubt and of a life that is so far from God.

This led to unattainable body image and more. For years, I struggled to obtain perfection that did not exist. This continued on through college. 

In high school, I was underweight because I developed an eating disorder. At one point I weighed 84 pounds. Some of this was due to anxiety and bullying. 

I unintentionally gained weight in college because I had cushings. I had a tumor on my adrenal gland that secreted a large amount of cortisol. 

So I was fighting to lose weight to support my own addiction with perfection while I was gaining weight from something completely out of my control. 

I had a choice. I could be angry with God, or I could be grateful. I chose to ditch the anger and embrace gratitude. 

It was one of those things where I had to go through the pain for me to see what was really important in life. 

God has a very distinct plan for all of us. When we engage in comparison, we quickly get off the path of where He is guiding us in his perfect plan. 

Developing a God-Centered Mindset: Steps to Embrace Your Unique Purpose

So, what do we do when we veer off the path? How do we renew our mind and transform our self-view through faith? 

1) Align your thoughts with God’s truth - This goes back to what I was saying about Romans 12:2 to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind and discern what is the will of God. 

Looking back, I was engulfed by the world by magazines, music, movies, and talking points that preached their truth of the world that was pulling me away from God’s truth, which should be the only truth. 

2) Pray consistently - Make this a regular habit. It makes a difference because He wants to hear from you. All He wants is a relationship with you. 

My dad was an addict. As a result, he was not that dad I needed him to be. I always say that is okay because I have the best Father a girl can ever ask for. 

I know that God loves me unconditionally and gets me. He never leaves me. 

I start the day in prayer with my son, and I end the day in prayer with my husband. Then, I pray off and on throughout the day when the spirit hits me. 

When someone asks for prayer, I drop what I am doing and pray and continue praying for them. 

3) Reflect consistently - So what does that mean exactly? I spend time in His word. Not only does that enrich my relationship with Him, but it serves as a guide for how we should live and honor Him.

His word is so far from the world’s expectations. It is much less painful. Comparison and self-doubt are not glorified. Reading and listening to His word is a start. 

Reflecting on it helps guide you in hearing from Him and His plan for you. The second part of that is having that relationship with Him. The closer I am to Him, the clearer His plan is to me. 

4) Find community of like-minded women - This does not mean that you avoid some people or non-believers. God made us for community whether we like it or not. He knows what He is doing. That is why I created the Empowering Women Facebook group. I included the link in the transcript.

👉 Join the Women’s Empowerment Group on Facebook NOW! 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewomensempowermentgroup

5) Practice Gratitude Daily - This changes everything. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you - 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

The difficulties in life are growth opportunities. We can continue to suffer by ruminating on them, or we can view them as growth opportunities as shift our mindset. 

I see a growth mindset as more than a viewpoint, it is Christ Centered or a God Mindset. He wants us to grow. The best way to do that is by staying in His word, reflecting, and staying focused on His plan and love for us.

My bonus tip is to hold yourself accountable in creating a mindset shift by adding these things to your calendar. Set aside time to engage in community, check in on others, celebrate one another’s wins, attend bible studies, or engage in prayer and daily devotionals. 

We think of these things and plan them out in our minds, but life happens and we forget, especially with how short attention span is today. 

We get super distracted. Your calendar serves as a reminder to apply these tips and take action.

Let's meet up again next week for another episode. Have a blessed week!

👉 Join the Women’s Empowerment Group on Facebook NOW! 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewomensempowermentgroup