Don’t compare yourself to something that is only a sliver of the whole picture or don’t feel bad about a part of your life or season that isn’t what you want it to be. You aren’t 100% of having it all together all the time or having everything in total chaos 24/7. Life is real, messy, clean, fun, not fun, beautiful, work, rest. You can have a beautiful dinner party and have dishes to do that next day. People see the perfect party, you see the dishes. See both. That is the beauty of life. You will loose that weight. You will have dishes in the sink. Your kids will sleep through the night perfectly. Your kids will have a hard day. Both are part of life. Not one or the other. We ebb and flow. We look great and look terrible. We have great hair and we have greasy hair. We have a tight body and sometimes we don’t. We eat healthy and we eat fries. This is life. This is reality.
Currently I am sitting in my sports bra and some short of pajama shorts, watching something on ABC Family and eating soup. There is laundry to be folded, dishes to be done, a bed that isn’t made and a face that needs to be washed. I’ve been hanging low this week as I’ve been tired and needed some good R and R. My husband is out of town for work and it’s definitely a bachelorette pad. This isn’t every week, but nor is my pretty posts on Instagram. My Instagram is not my real, everyday life, nor is sitting in my pajamas all day in a messy house. My instagram is scheduled, like a business and a small fraction of my creative outlet that I use to promote and build a business from things I am passionate about. My life doesn’t consist of perfect hair everyday or make up everyday, but I sure do like those things. My life doesn’t consist of perfect, complex meals everyday, but sometimes I go for it. Some nights it’s leftovers or organic pizza. I am actually a huge nerd with my head in blood work reviews and analyzing people’s bodies some days and then other days an entrepreneur building a blog and working on other projects. I wear my Dr/creative bubbly hat and I love doing both sides of my personality. I love style, I love inspiring people, I love health, I love people. I am multifaceted and I am not just one thing. 
Some people o n l y talk to me about health or ask me health questions whenever we are together. Or only talk to me about one aspect they assume is the whole of my personality. That is great and I am glad to answer and chat about it but did you also know I watched the presidential debate? That I love interior design? That am pretty silly and goofy but can also be serious? I’m sure you have felt like you can’t be all that you are because someone sees you as just this or just that. We are so much more that just XYZ! Be who you are. ALL that you are. Don’t compare yourself to something that is only a sliver of the whole picture or don’t feel bad about a part of your life or season that isn’t what you want it to be. You aren’t 100% of having it all together or having everything in total chaos. Life is real, messy, fun, beautiful. You can have a beautiful dinner party and have dishes to do that next day. People see the perfect party, you see the dishes. See both. That is the beauty of life. You will loose that weight. You will have dishes in the sink. Your kids will sleep through the night perfectly. Your kids will have a hard day. Both are part of life. Not one or the other. We ebb and flow. We look great and look terrible. We have great hair and we have greasy hair. We have a tight body and sometimes we don’t. We eat healthy and we eat fries. This is life. This is reality. 
With all that being said. Remember, all the gal’s instagram’s that you see that are of perfect little squares of perfectly styled moms and there stylish kids and perfect houses and meals etc. Most likely, they are not trying to fake a life to you, they are most likely building there business behind the scenes, or they are extremely creative and artistic and need a creative outlet, they like the look of how all the squares flow etc. I don’t know or care. I get inspired. I love aesthetic. They aren’t trying to make you feel less superior, less important at all your hard work at the gym, in the kitchen, with the kids, with your love life. They do it for fun or for business and I would bet that any one of these ladies would laugh and think you are silly if you asked them if this was their everyday life.
Do I think they need to post imperfect photos to make everyone else not feel bad? Nope. Just like I don’t believe you should dumb down your smarts, talents, gifts and personality for someone that feels insecure and crappy about themselves around you. Everyone has a way of expressing themselves and if anything, inspiration is a beautiful thing. The point is, my life isn’t a photoshoot, nor is yours, nor is any insta mom, blogger, person you see, but if people want to express themselves through insta or build a successful inspiration blog or photography business or sell clothes, or model clothes and get paid and use it as a tool…go for it! More power to you girlfriend! I’ll be inspired by you! 
Life is messy, clean, busy, calm, great hair, greasy hair, work, rest, fun, challenging. We aren’t always feeling put together in areas of our lives, but we also aren’t always laying on the couch. Some days you’ll rock it, some days you’d be happy if you brushed your teeth. Embrace the ebbs and flows. You will loose that weight, you will have dishes in the sink, you will have the energy to do fantastic things, you will have no energy to do anything and need to rest, your kids will sleep perfectly through the night, your kids will pee and puke at night. Don’t define your worth or value on what you did or didn’t do, what you have or don’t have, what your house looks like or doesn’t look like, what your Instagram looks like or doesn’t look like, your job, your no job. The only thing that is consent is that things change. Your value is that you are already a perfect, beautiful, loved child of God. Do your best and forget the rest.” I’ve been through it all-tragedy, loss, success, betrayal, failure, back biting, bullying, happiness, promotion, not knowing where the next paycheck would come from, seeing miracles, life changing decisions, walking out on water in faith and seeing what God does and through it all knowing deeply my true and only source, provider, redeemer, healer, restorer of all things is Jesus.
That’s where I have determined to stay forever. No matter what comes in life.
