The Joy Thief

Contagious Vulnerability
4 min readFeb 6, 2020
“When you go out into the woods and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent…You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree. The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying “You’re too this, or I’m too this.”…And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.” — Ram Dass

Someone’s been stealing my joy this week.

Turns out, it’s an inside job.

That someone is me.

“Comparison is the thief of joy” is one of my mantras. Words I try to live by.

It’s a statement so deeply resonant for me I thought I’d come up with it before googling my way to discover that it’s actually a quote attributed to Teddy Roosevelt.

(Turns out I have more in common with our mustachioed 25th president than a reverence for nature and being born in New York.)

I’m usually the one gently reminding others of the joy-stealing effects of comparisons.

Reminding them— and simultaneously myself— to focus on and celebrate who, where and what we are rather than all that we’re not.

But I find myself at a point in my journey where I’m noticing that comparisons are stealing my joy.

The other day I was checking out the website of an amazing soulful business coach I know and love and instead of being inspired by her personal statement and authentic offering, found myself feeling a whole lotta less than.

Later my dear friend and land-mate came in sharing a host of new business opportunities that had recently come into her flow and instead of feeling excited for her, found myself once again feeling less than.

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Contagious Vulnerability
Contagious Vulnerability

Written by Contagious Vulnerability

Writer. Transformation Agent. Catalyst for Finding Joy Within. Voice of Contagious Vulnerability. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Learn more at www.contagiousvulnerability.com