Avoid the Comparison Trap

Hello, Sam here. Welcome to this guided affirmation practice to help you avoid the comparison trap that we can all fall into sometimes. I'm so excited to be sharing this practice with you. These days, falling into the comparison trap is all too easy. We see images on social media of families frolicking on the beach together, parents making smiley face pancakes on Sunday mornings. And with all this, it's easy to assume that this is what their lives are like 24/7. In these moments, it's helpful to catch the stories and projections that occur in our minds before we believe them unchallenged. One way of doing this is asking ourselves, what else could be true? This question cuts through the fog of projection and grounds our thinking in a more realistic scenario. (soothing music) You can also tap into what I call our deepest wish. A deepest wish goes beyond comparison or desires to be the best parent or better than someone else. Instead of separating us into you and me, it brings us into the shared we space. When you remember that just like you, everyone wants to live with these qualities, you can feel a connection with other parents and families remembering that in many ways you have more in common than not. (soothing music) So here are some affirmations that we can try out together. As I say each one aloud, you can repeat them to yourself noticing feelings and sensations that arise and we'll repeat each one three times so they really get a chance to sink in. So go ahead and get into a comfortable seated position and just allow your eyes to close if that's comfortable. (soothing music) And let's just start with a few slow, deep breaths. (soothing music) As you breathe in, you can feel your chest and abdomen expanding. (soothing music) And as you slowly breathe out, you can just feel the chest and abdomen resting back down. (soothing music) And then just let your breath be natural and easy, letting go of any effort. (soothing music) And we'll start with our first affirmation. (soothing music) My deepest wish is for all families, all people to feel competent, secure, and connected. (soothing music) See if you can imagine a family you know feeling this way, feeling competent as parents, and connected as a family. (soothing music) My deepest wish is for all families, all people to feel competent, secure, and connected. (soothing music) My deepest wish is for all families, all people to feel competent, secure, and connected. (soothing music) And just taking another slow, deep breath allowing that affirmation to land. (soothing music) May I trust that just like me, all families wanna be safe and feel joyful and confident. (soothing music) Just like me, all families wanna be safe and feel joyful and confident. (soothing music) Just like me, all families wanna feel safe, joyful, and confident. (soothing music) Taking another slow, deep breath, noticing sensations, images in...