Comparison versus Reality

IT’S JUST NOT THAT EASY

Have you ever watched a commercial like the ones from Home Depot? I love renovations and any type of makeover show in-general. So it is super cool to me when I see the commercials where they landscape a yard in no time. There is this okay yard and then via T.V magic it’s this gorgeous oasis. And you find yourself thinking my backyard could look like that! I could do that! It’s just not that easy. A classic case of Comparison vs Reality, all is not as easy as it seems.

My Husband often looks over at me and says’ “yeah right, it Never goes that well.” It made me think awe your just being pessimistic. But, really he’s being realistic. I know this now because we have done some “simple” projects around our home that were NOT simple.

It made me think though. We see these instant successes, or what appear to be and we think the process is easy. Those commercials are time-lapsed and Experts are crafting those beautiful projects together for our “viewing” pleasure.

Comparison Versus Reality: Vantage point

I always say I love seeing people do what they are really gifted in. My belief is that when someone is truly talented and skilled at what they are doing…… they make it Look easy.

The truth is our vantage point from the sidelines is just that. We are looking at what things “look” like and not everything involved with making that look come together. We don’t see ALLLL of the work that went into a particular outcome. There are a team of people behind some of our favorite YouTube personalities, Chefs, Bloggers, and Fashionistas.

Even Social media celebrities will say they took 100 pictures to get a few good ones. When we go to stores we look at those Mannequins dressed and accessorized so well and then we walk into the store and we see the clamps in the back. Those extra accessories, if you will holding the “look” all together.

Comparison vs Reality: Caught up in the appearance

Sometimes I think we are so caught-up in the look of things we don’t or can’t imagine the work that created it. We do this in so many areas. the problem is we can become fixated on the product and not realistic about the steps to get there.

We can look at the person and see that they look great and polished but we don’t realize what that took. There is a cost and price to everything and we don’t always count the cost. No one just wakes up perfect. We see those Memes that says “I woke up like this.” They are funny but also not always true. There are so many programs out now that can filter just about anything to Perfection.

People in the tech world will tell you that there’s an App for that! Or they can create one.

Real-real life is not like most of the images that we see. In a way things can be cheapened if all we see are the results and not the effort, and the work.

Don’t get me wrong I Love seeing beautiful images and scenery just as much as the next person. I believe what God made all around us is truly Beautiful, it’s Good. We were even given the ability to see the Beauty He created.

I just don’t want to lose sight of the fact that there is so much we don’t know behind the scenes. If not we can get caught up in the superficial and compare ourselves, or our work to the finished “product” of someone else.

Comparison vs Reality: The process is sometimes messy

For example when I cook it’s not a seamless process. It’s messy at times, most of the time (ask my Husband). Because behind the scenes I’m keeping a toddler occupied, taking out pots, pans, seasoning and utensils. Oil spills here, a bit of flour over there and so on. I have always taken a picture of the finished plate because I love presentation. I love that something tasty came out of a messy process.

Beautiful presentation doesn’t mean that the process wasn’t messy. It doesn’t mean that it didn’t take a lot of effort and preparation. Going to the store, figuring out what i’m going to make, schlepping around a little, getting home to put it all away. Also a temper tantrum possibly happened while we were out. You see what I mean?!

I love watching cooking shows, and my favorite ones are the British ones, episodes of Master Chef and Chopped. I think it’s because I appreciate seeing what actually went into making that finished meal. As someone who cooks I love to see the Realistic mess-ups, the ingredients someone forgot etc.

Let’s not get so caught up in the merchandising, and the images that we lose sight, or never have sight of reality. No one has it all together, no one is perfect, and we are all just people. i’m thankful for those that share their gifts and abilities to Bless us all with what God has placed in them. I’m thankful for people that have “vision” and can inspire others to see beauty.

Use your gifts

So share whatever Messy gift that you have. Attempt that project that you have wanted to do. Don’t wait to know it all, be it all, and have all the ducks in a row. The process is where it’s at anyway. The education, the confidence, the clarity, and sometimes the lack of it are all within the process.

Comparison is not just “the thief of joy,” as someone once said. But it’s also a distraction. At the end of the day it really isn’t all about us anyway. It’s about bringing Glory to the one who Created us. Let’s appreciate all that we are and all that we bring to the table as fellow human beings. And the next time you compare yourself to someone else. Thank God for the gifts HE has placed in them and for the ones HE has placed in you. Pray that HE will help us all Steward those gifts well. Because what is a Gift but something to be Given to others!

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