Leveraging the strengths we KNOW we have instead of worrying about the advantages we THINK others have

I drive a 2002 Kia Rio and over the last few years I have noticed countless others driving the same vehicle. Each time I see a Kia Rio, I cannot refrain from comparing our cars. Is my car in better shape? Does their car come with power windows with extra leg room? Although I continue to pose these questions upon myself, I am always quick to find reasons as to why my car is better than theirs. I have said things such as, “Their car may be cleaner than mine, but I just drove across three states to see my grandparents.” Or, “Their car may have fewer dents, but I have had this car for over ten years now.” There was even a time when I told myself that I could have had a better car, but I was too mature to waste my hard earned money on such things. However, the real question is, “Does it make sense to compare our cars?

As we drive down life’s roads it is important to recognize that we are all driving different vehicles (e.g., Jeeps, sports vehicles, muscle cars, motorcycles, etc) with unique special features. Even if we see a vehicle that looks similar to ours, there is still no way to know what features that vehicle may have. We must remember that though we all travel on the same roads, we are all driving to different destinations with different starting points and different modes of transportation. Like our vehicles, we are unique and come with our own special features. The trick is, instead of focusing on the features we THINK the vehicle next to us has, we should focus on identifying our own strengths and using them to our advantage. If we have great interpersonal skills we should find ways to leverage those skills to help us succeed. The same thing goes for people who are detail oriented, great at connecting people through social media, strong writers, natural problem solvers, or even great at remembering dates and times. If you have a Jeep that came with mud tires, don’t limit yourself to driving on the freeway because you see others doing it; GO OFF ROAD!

Finally, because we are all going to different places using different modes of transportation, it does not make sense to compare ourselves to, or make judgments of, other people. Think about it. Is a sports car better than a Jeep because it can beat the Jeep in a street race? Would the results be the same if the race took place in the desert? Furthermore, to judge another vehicle by its exterior is not helpful either. To think that we are closer to reaching our destination than another driver because our car may be cleaner, more expensive, or is moving faster at that particular time is naïve. We do not know if that car is moving at full speed or not, how long that car has been traveling, if that person is just learning how to drive, or if someone has recently vandalized the car for no reason. The truth is that we just do not know. We do not know what challenges they had to overcome or the setbacks they had to endure. Because we do not know this information, it is safer and smarter not to judge at all.

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