Believing in Yourself and Being Important

I often catch myself making comparisons between myself and women who have achieved greatly. Needless to say, I do not come out on top. I know comparisons are a pointless exercise because there are always going to be people who seem - or who are - ahead of me in some way or another. Some are so far ahead that the comparison makes me want to jump off a cliff. My life seems so unworthy, I seem to have achieved so little.

People often say if you are going to make comparisons, then do it both ways. Compare yourself to people who are not even trying to make anything of their lives. Somehow I never want to, though!

I was thinking about Oprah the other day - I know, that is a very dangerous comparison to make, but I made it anyhow. For one thing, Oprah inspires me - as she does so many millions of people - and helps to keep me going on my own journey.

We are about the same age but alas in rather unfortunately stark contrast to her I sometimes do not have enough material wealth to feed myself and pay rent from month to month. At the moment, I hasten to add. I lost three businesses in a row more than six years ago and I am still trying to find my feet in the world. At the age of 55.

Maybe I understand as much about the internet as she does, tick one off to me. But she is world famous, has the resources to employ a million internet experts, so she wins after all. She has a brilliant career, and my brilliant career is a seedling sinking tiny threadlike roots down and pushing its fragile stem and leaves tentatively up into the air.

My comparison was beginning to look more than exceptionally pointless - in fact, downright destructive to my ego in its current state of fragility. There is no doubt about it. Oprah wins hands down. Has she achieved more than I have? That is a ridiculous question, career-wise. Does she have more value than me? To most of the world, yes, without a doubt.

So do I have any value at all?

Strangely, yes. It is up to me to recognize it. Even Oprah herself has said a thousand times. Do not look for your value by comparing yourself to celebrities. Find your own. Look inside your own heart, your own life, and focus on that. That's good advice. I think I'll take it.