A lesson learned on comparison
Get ready for:
🎭 A theatre COVID spiral
🤯 Comparison stealing joy and energy
💛 Knowing your worth
✨ Keeping accountable
If you don't know this about me, not only am I a finance enthusiast, I'm also a professional theatre performer! And I was out all last week from my show due to COVID.
Here's what happened and what I learned from it:
I’m currently in a theatre show with a big role (a “lead” if you will), but was the 3rd cast mate to catch COVID that spread like wildfire throughout our cast and crew.
Here’s why this sucked so bad that I caught it:
I got sick, and then the day after, my understudy got sick. 😭
(For those not familiar with theatre, an understudy goes on in case the main actor can’t. In this case, either of us could go on.)
This sucked. BAD.
So there the show was, with no more current options to play my role. They cancelled three shows last week, Tuesday through Thursday, because my character didn’t have a human to fill it. Until it did.
Along comes Jessica (changing her name for anonymity's sake), the newest understudy.
20 years old.
Young and spry and ready to go.
On Friday, she learned the WHOLE SHOW in one day and performed it that night. She did three other shows that weekend as I was still down bad with the VID.
All weekend, my Facebook was FLOODED with appreciation posts.
“Jessica is INCREDIBLE.”
“Jessica saved the day and is a name to watch.”
“Jessica is amazing. Keep an eye on her, she’s going to do big things.”
And you know how this made me feel?
Small.
My anxiety, imposter syndrome, and irrational thoughts took over. How dare I be weak enough to get a symptomatic case of COVID and my body can't miraculously heal itself in five days!
“It should be ME going on this weekend,” I thought as I blew my nose and downed Tylenol trying to break yet another fever. My thoughts were NOT fair, but I fed into them.
Fast forward to yesterday - eight days after testing positive, I was back in the show for the last week of the run, and I was hesitant. I was worried about pushing too hard and feeling worse, but mostly I thought everyone was secretly comparing me to Jessica.
But what was I met with instead?
Hugs.
Kind words.
Crying smiling faces.
“WE’VE MISSED YOU.”
And throughout the show, I’d get more and more individual words of affirmations.
“The show is running so smoothly now that you’re back.”
“I’ve missed hearing your voice sing that song.”
“Great scene. SHE’S BACK YALL.”
Which made me realize, I was freaking out for nothing.
Yes, Jessica was younger. Yes, she was new and did an incredible feat of learning a 2.5 hour show in one day. But, she’s not me.
No shade thrown, what I mean is - we both bring something different to the table.
I spent my whole weekend comparing myself to her instead of focusing my energy on healing and resting so I could get back to sharing part of my magic - my art.
There’s space for both of us, and I forgot that.
All of this to say, if you’re feeling comparison today, reminder that
1. comparison is the thief of joy, and
2. There is only one YOU. ✨
No one has your unique energy, story, and abilities.
Yes there are thousands of other people in your field but that doesn’t mean they have anything over you and your secret sauce.
Only you hold the key to your unique ideas and community. So whatever you do, let it be heard from the mountaintops because you are UNSTOPPABLE, and it’s time to take the leap.
Start the business.
Buy the house.
Take the trip.
Quit that job.
Make the move.
Do what it is you’re stopping yourself from doing because you’re comparing yourself to x, y, and z.
X, Y, and Z are not U!!!!
Let’s make a pact.
We’ve got six more months left of this year, so how about we work together to drop any comparisons we make to others, hmm? How about it? You in?
If you are, comment ACCOUNTABLE on this blog post and I’ll send a DM to see how I can support you in your endeavors. I’m dead serious - no one needs to go at this alone.
No more comparison. We level up TODAY. 💪🏾
You got this my friend.
- CWM