Comparison during pregnancy - 3 ways to feel confident!
Comparison to your ‘old self’, comparison to friends’ pregnancies and comparison to every Mummy-blogger on Social Media!
Hey Mamma, guess what? You are enough.
Comparison can come up in any stage of life, but especially in pregnancy. It’s so easy to look at others and change your perspective of what you feel like you ‘should’ be doing / feeling / looking like. Especially in the era of Social Media.
From the size of your bump, morning sickness symptoms, how often you are or aren’t exercising and moving your body, foods you’re eating or craving, what other Mums are doing with their time, how often they are working, how often you are working, how long they are or aren’t taking off for maternity leave, baby names…the.list.goes.on!
What works for one person may not work for you. It may not even feel good for you!
Okay, so your best friend was drinking green juices and eating nourish bowls every day of her pregnancy. Maybe your next door neighbor was going to the gym every day to ‘stay fit’. Or your favourite instagram influencer’s bump is way smaller/bigger than yours when they were at the stage you’re at.
Everything in life has strengths and limitations. Some of the strengths of comparison mean that you can research, compare and create lists of things you want to do / purchase / eat etc.
The limitations of comparison leave us feeling like we aren’t enough. Like you ‘should be’ doing more, looking differently, that things aren’t as they should be. Comparison can leave you feeling let down and disappointed.
Here’s 3 things you can do to move past the limitations of comparison and start living in the moment to enjoy your days:
Bring in gratitude
The interesting thing about your brain is that is physically can not feel disappointed and appreciative at the same time. Those 2 parts of the brain can’t work together at the same time. So, the next time you notice yourself comparing to others or even to you old version of yourself and what you ‘used to be able to do’ stop for a moment and bring in some gratitude and appreciation for everything that you ARE doing. And I mean, apart from growing a human! What are 3 things you have achieved in the last few days?Unfollow social media accounts that do not bring you joy
Social Media can be a breeding ground for comparison and feeling less than. It can also be a space for empowerment, confidence and learning. It is what you make it. Notice any accounts that you follow that may not serve you any more. What feelings come up for you as you scroll? Get brutal and unfollow any that don’t make you feel good. If it’s a friend or account that you don’t want to take the full plunge and unfollow, simply hit mute - on feed and stories!Make a list each morning of what you want to achieve
It’s easy to focus on what you haven’t done this week, but what about what you have? Bring some structure to your days by writing out a list in the mornings of what you want to get done and then cross each item off in the evenings. This builds gratitude and a sense of growth and achievement - all things that are going to feel way better than comparison!
Remember there is never any right or wrong during pregnancy. Even if this isn’t your first child, every pregnancy can look and feel very different. Give yourself space. Listen to what you need each day. Release some of that pressure that you place on yourself.
Are you sick of feeling overwhelmed, stressed and anxious? It’s time to get your sparkle back.
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