This week’s installment gets a tip all to itself because it’s just that important, as I’ve seen far too many people (in both fitness and writing world) become crippled by comparison and self-doubt, both of which are often rooted in jealousy. I hope you find what follows helpful for your fitness journey!

Social media is a blessing. It enables us to learn, connect, and communicate with others instantaneously. And an added bonus for introverts like myself, we can do all of that without leaving the house!

But social media also has a dark side, and I’m not just talking about the incessant political Facebook rants and procrastination-perpetuating cat videos. I’m talking about that detestable, joy-sucking four-letter word, “Envy.”

Many people take one look at another’s success and stew over it rather than celebrate it. Because they’re unsure of their own talent and potential and fearful they’ll never have the kind of success or joy they see splashed across Twitter and Instagram feeds, they feel threatened by the triumphs of others.

Envy will, as the Book of Proverbs says, “make the bones rot.” ^[1] It will paralyze you by preoccupying your brain with thoughts of comparison, resentment, and inferiority. It will prevent you from prospering and shining your light by drawing you into its darkness. It will trick you into thinking that no matter what you do, you’ll never reach the level of success you see others around you achieving.

Can I fill you in on a little secret? There is more than enough of God’s strength, grace, favor, and healing power to go around this planet thousands and thousands and thousands of times.

So what if other women are getting stronger and losing weight?
So what if they seem to exhibit better self-control when it comes to what they eat?
So what if they won the “Biggest Loser” contest at work?
So what if they got a better time than you at CrossFit today?

We should celebrate with those people, not be envious of them. 

On-fire people tell their egos to take a hike and realize there’s enough fulfillment and joy to be had by all of God’s children. They genuinely enjoy seeing others flourish and grow. They do so because they realize that each one of us is one of God’s beloved children, who he gave his only Son to save, and we should honor, respect, and encourage their God-given success as precious brothers and sisters.

If you’re struggling with envy, I encourage you to jot down lists of all the wonderful spiritual, physical, mental, and social blessings God has given you, continues to give you, and will give you in the future. For example:

Looking at our lives through this objective, rational lens shifts our perspective, lifting our eyes from our fleshly, temporal wants to our spiritual, eternal gifts. It opens our hearts to receive God’s blessings in His perfect timing.

Quote of the Month: The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God.” – Jerry Bridges

Verse of the Month: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17

Thought of the Month: Someone else’s victory is not your defeat.

My latest fitness book, filled with 15-minute workouts you can do anywhere, is 99 cents again for a short time! Check it out on Amazon Kindle here.

PS: If you don’t have a Kindle device, you can download the app to your smartphone and read that way. 😀