The grass always seems greener on the other side.
It is easy to assume that those in different seasons, places and relationships are experiencing life at a greater quality than our own. We are ready to believe that if we just receive what we lack, our discontentment will disappear. We crave that unspeakable joy, and chase it by going after new things, new statuses and new people. However this quest for “more” finds us constantly running to another life and often missing the beauty in the one that we have.
The problem with the other side is that we never really know what kind of manure one had to endure to fertilize it. From our own patch of lawn, we simply see results, and it is difficult to smell the stench of another person’s challenges. Often what we think comes naturally, required years of toil and labor.
The grass looks greener, but what did they have to go through for it to grow?
As females, we are blessed with more choices than any generation before us. We can be great career women and fantastic mothers. We can be bold business owners and wonderful wives. We have access to education, we’re able to vote, we’re able to lead and we can travel wherever our hearts desire. For many of us, these are positions our mothers and grandmothers could only dream of. Yet some of us still battle with feelings of inadequacy, restlessness and “not being enough”.
We fail to process our progress, and we want what is next more than what is now.
The grass looks greener.
This is not to say that we should not fiercely follow our passions. Your vision and purpose are there to be pursued, and you should desire the best version of your life. However, it’s healthy to constantly evaluate why we want what we want. Are our hearts and motivations pure? Or are we chasing what looks good on other people?
Every time the grass looks greener, it’s time to water your own grass. Grass is green when it is being nourished and nurtured. What areas in your life are feeling malnourished? When thinking on these, consider this:
- Just because something is hard work, doesn’t automatically mean it’s worth quitting.
- It is important to respect the season you’re in and to seek a full understanding of what you can learn from it.
- If you’re thinking of transitioning into a new season (whether it be career, marriage, motherhood, relocation) find someone who is in that season that is prepared to have an honest conversation with you. This will help you manage your expectations as to how green the grass truly is.
- There is more to life than status and possessions. If every need were met, what would really drive you?
- Challenge yourself to spend at least a few minutes a day stepping away from the screen. Embrace your surroundings and the people around you, you never know how long theses moments will last.