When we were children, my mother would dress my sister and I in identical clothing. We were different in age, but she wanted other people to see that we complimented each other. As my sister and I grew older, we each developed our own characteristics and started wearing things we thought were fashionable.

We played games together as children but our taste in activities changed as we grew older. My sister chose to take music lessons after school while I pursued sports. Our parents supported both of us in our activities because we were each unique.

As I grew up I took odd jobs to earn a living. When I got hired for a job I started dreaming about becoming a supervisor. When I didn’t get promoted I began to wonder if my plans for success would become a reality. I started looking at my peers who claimed they had landed their dream job. From the outside it looked as if they were on a different level than me and I wrongly began to compare my lifestyle with theirs.

There have been times in my life where I asked myself if I'd ever make it; did I make the wrong step? Through the counsel of godly people I was able to gain a new perspective on how to achieve my goals and learn how to make adjustments. I also absorbed books about how I could maximize my potential. Of course, the authors hadn't lived perfect lives, but learned through their mistakes and became more successful. Lastly, prayer has sustained me. Through the power of meditating and speaking God’s Word my attitude changed.

You may know someone who has compared their lifestyle with others or may have done so yourself, but comparing ourselves with others brings anxiety. Wanting to live your life exactly like someone else is like doing a paint-by-numbers kit and telling someone else that it’s an original. Take time learning how to be original. As Oscar Wilde said, "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."