Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media, comparing your body to a complete stranger? Or have you ever been looking at photos online or in a magazine and started to notice a not-so-good feeling about your body flood in? If so, the strategy I am about to share is for YOU!
The comparison trap when trying to lose weight is dangerous and a reason many of us fall into the trap of self-sabotage. Today, I want to share a simple NSL (Neuro-Slim Life) tool to help you reduce how often you compare your body to others. It’s time to start feeling better and happier about the transformation journey you are on.
If you’ve ever found yourself comparing your body to someone else’s, then you’re already familiar with the comparison trap. This is where one has a tendency to compare how they look to others, whether it’s on social media, in magazines, or in real life.
The comparison trap convinces you that “so and so’s” life is better, happier, and more exciting than yours. It convinces you that everyone is more fabulous, fun, and put together than you. The comparison trap leaves you feeling like sh**t, less than, and down about your ability to reach your 2.0 body.
To be honest, the comparison trap isn’t new because of social media. Before Instagram, we had Facebook. Before Facebook, we had People magazine. And before People magazine, we had high school yearbooks. Comparison is a natural part of being a human. That said, social media has radically changed this pattern, giving us an easy platform to compare our lives to others, looking only at their highlight reels.
You scroll through Instagram and see perfectly curated poses and people luxuriating on vacation. You look at Facebook and see everyone gushing about how much they love their significant others. You flip through a magazine and see page after page of beautiful people. And without even realizing it, you start to feel inadequate. Your life suddenly doesn’t feel so great.
The comparison trap is real. And dangerous. But the good news is, there’s a simple NSL tool that can change your life. It’s both practical and helpful. It’s a tool I’ve practiced in my own 2.0 journey, and it’s made a significant difference.
The difference is dramatic, but the idea is simple. EDIT. Yes, you read that correctly. Edit. Look at the content you take in. Pay attention to what you’re consuming. And if it’s not healthy or helpful, don’t allow it into your space.
Unfollow. Unsubscribe. Remove.
Don’t expect your brain to see a pretty, shiny stimulus and not respond. Your brain isn’t wired that way. The key to surviving the comparison trap starts way before you see the photo. It starts by not allowing that photo to be in front of your eyes in the first place. (There’s a reason I don’t keep Reece Pieces in our house. I can’t have that stimulus in front of me without reacting. My brain isn’t wired like that.) Take away the stimulus by editing what you consume.
If you follow people on Instagram who only show perfectly curated images and flattering angles of their bodies and never open up or get real, unfollow them. If you have people on Facebook that are overly obnoxious or distorted in what they share (including what they eat in a day), hide their posts or unfriend them.
This isn’t about being, jealous. It’s about protecting your soul and only taking in things that are congruent with how you want to feel – this will lead you to living your 2.0 NSL!
If you want your life to be simpler, then consume media or materials that support that. If you want to feel better about yourself as a parent, then follow people who are open and authentic about their parenting struggles. If you want to feel better about your body transformation – delete ALL accounts that share tips on how to easily diet – including competitors! Don’t get me started on what is actually going on with their “trasnformation.”
I’m picky about who I allow into my online and real-life spaces. I can’t always trust my brain to see things as they truly are, so I’m thoughtful and protective about who gets in front of it.
If you struggle with the comparison trap, hear me loud and clear. Edit. Unfollow. Remove. If the photos of a popular influencer or old high school friend don’t nourish your 2.0 NSL, stop following them. If someone isn’t in line with how you want to feel, then don’t invite them into your digital space.
Be protective about what your eyes look at. Be intentional about what you’re scrolling past.
The comparison trap is dangerous to your 2.0 NSL. It minimizes what you have and leaves you feeling inadequate. Protect your mental and emotional health by editing who you allow into your space. It makes a world of difference.
Are you willing to edit who you follow on social media?
