comparison – Melissa Schlies

When You Feel Behind & It’s Already Fall

In January, when we were all praying this year would be better, I committed to practicing yoga at least three times a week. I needed a physical way to release all the stress my body was carrying—but also, I was out of shape. And rather than begin with an intense exercise regimen that may be hard to maintain, I decided to slowly build back the strength I had lost in 2020. Soon, yoga became a morning routine I looked forward to. It helped me start my days with purpose. Emotionally, I was calmer. And the more I practiced, the stronger [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-09-16T10:22:58+00:00September 20th, 2021|Categories: Acceptance, Anxiety, Balance, Change, comparison, Conflict, Failure, Habit Making, Routines, Uncategorized|Comments Off

The Secret to Keeping Your New Year’s Goals

Every year, the United Nations publishes a World Happiness Report. For many years now, Denmark has been at the top of that list. And I remember, a number of years ago, an article came out saying that Denmark is the happiest place to live, because Danes have lower expectations for their lives. This claim that expecting less so you’re pleasantly surprised with what you get, has since been refuted. It is now said, Danes expect free healthcare, free education, longer maternity/paternity leave, and in general have a better work life balance. Which lately has me wondering—is it possible that they [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2021-02-01T00:00:51+00:00February 1st, 2021|Categories: Acceptance, Balance, Change, comparison, Depression, Failure, Habit Making, Practice, Routines, Self Care, Success|Comments Off

Three of My Favorite Reads From 2020 & Why Not to Be Hard on Yourself

Ever feel like you’re not reading enough? Or, if it’s not reading, perhaps you feel like you’re not listening to educational podcasts, exercising, or cleaning your kitchen floor. For some reason, there are random things in my life I always feel I should be doing more often. And I have a feeling I’m not alone. We all have things we feel guilty about not doing. Or at least, we feel guilty for not doing them enough. Only, not reading more is not usually a problem for me. I am the type of person who could be accidentally locked in a [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-12-17T02:08:05+00:00December 17th, 2020|Categories: Acceptance, Balance, comparison, Good Books, Habit Making, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Routines|Comments Off

Five Ways to Approach Your Pandemic Grief

In the corner of our living room right now, there is a big stack of boxes. It had begun to form over a month ago, when our plans looked very different. Now, they’re a daily reminder that our lives have been put on hold. Tony and I were supposed to move this season. No, we haven’t found a house (though we came very close to putting an offer on one). But before Covid-19, we’d been actively looking. And as the boxes in our living room can attest, we were already packing. We were READY to move. Only now, everything is [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-04-01T23:16:50+00:00April 2nd, 2020|Categories: Acceptance, Change, comparison, Conflict, Depression, grief, Health, Hope, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Mental Health|Comments Off

Love Learn Lead March 5, 2020

One of my favorite feelings in the world is when I open the oven to take out something I’ve baked—and it looks and smells awesome. Whether it’s a batch of cookies, a loaf of bread, or a pie, there is an incredible feeling of joy and pride that surges through me. Which makes me wonder, What do you create that makes you feel this way? As we live in a culture where everything is graded, measured by “likes,” or easily compared to a million other people’s similar attempts, it can be hard to believe our work is good. To celebrate [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2020-03-04T23:59:42+00:00March 5th, 2020|Categories: comparison, Creativity, Lead, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, perseverance, Practice, Preparation, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Looking Back at 2019

About a month ago, on social media, people were posting photo’s of themselves from 2009 next to photos of themselves from this year. It was called “The Decade Challenge,” as we are all heading into a whole new decade. For a variety of reasons, I didn’t participate. But this “challenge” did make me compare my 2009 to my 2019. For me, 2009, was one of the best years of my life. With my job, I went to both Chile and India. I climbed a mountain for the first time. I finally felt like I had a life and friendships outside [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-12-19T21:48:32+00:00December 30th, 2019|Categories: comparison, grief, Uncategorized|Comments Off

When It’s Actually Ok to Compare

In our kitchen, on the shelf just above our toaster, you will find a small bronze colored tool that looks like a wrench. It came with a piece of Ikea furniture we bought years ago. And somehow, it got repurposed for pulling things out of our toaster oven. Once our food is cooked, the hot oven rack is too small to grab with a mitt, so we reach in there and hook it with this “wrench.” Then, we drag it out. Only, it doesn’t work that well. In fact sometimes, I still burn myself. Yet here we are, years later, [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-10-24T13:12:10+00:00October 31st, 2019|Categories: Acceptance, Calling, comparison, Lead, Leadership, Learn, Love, Love Learn Lead, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Comparison: It’s Not Our Job

Over the past few years, there’s a word that’s been thrown around to describe our generation: Entitled. But I don’t believe our problem is that we think we are owed everything. I think the problem is we compare ourselves to others. Then we worry about what it says about us, if we aren’t in the same place (financially, career-wise, etc.), as everyone else seems to be. I don’t believe our problem is that we think we are owed everything. I think the problem is we compare ourselves to others. Comparison is never about the person we’re focusing on. It’s always [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-10-24T12:42:10+00:00October 28th, 2019|Categories: Anxiety, comparison, Courage, Hope, Mental Health, Purpose, Rejection, Uncategorized|Comments Off

How to Focus on Your Lane & Avoid Comparison

Every now and then, I meet someone who’s never struggled with comparison or insecurity. Or at least, they’re very good at pretending. There have been times where I’ve admitted to such a person that I’ve struggled with an insecurity or wanting to be like someone else, either in my present or my past, and only received a blank look. Other times, I’ve received a confused expression like “Why would you worry about that?” My response is usually to drop it like I haven’t made any confession at all, and move on. When inside I am always thinking, “I don’t know [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-10-24T00:39:38+00:00October 24th, 2019|Categories: comparison, Declutter Your Mind, Habit Making, Health, Lead, Leadership, Learn, Life Coaching, Love, Love Learn Lead, Mental Health, Self Care, Success, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Comparison: The Thief of Joy

“Comparison is the thief of Joy” —Theodore Roosevelt Recently, I was listening to a podcast by a gifted writer who also has a good size social following. At the beginning of the episode, the host/writer shared how fun it has been to see her newest book on the shelves in bookstores. Then she went on to thank her listeners for all the downloads her show had reached. And I hate to admit it, but I began to feel jealous. Now, you may not want to write books or possibly have a podcast someday, like I do. But you do want [...]

By Melissa Schlies|2019-10-14T15:48:54+00:00October 21st, 2019|Categories: Calling, comparison, perseverance, Purpose, Success, Uncategorized|Comments Off

When You Feel Behind & It’s Already Fall

The Secret to Keeping Your New Year’s Goals

Three of My Favorite Reads From 2020 & Why Not to Be Hard on Yourself

Five Ways to Approach Your Pandemic Grief

Love Learn Lead March 5, 2020

Looking Back at 2019

When It’s Actually Ok to Compare

Comparison: It’s Not Our Job

How to Focus on Your Lane & Avoid Comparison

Comparison: The Thief of Joy

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