A friend recently asked me, “How do you deal with comparison on social media? Do you find yourself stuck in it as a creator?”

And I was surprised to hear my honest answer:

No.

I don’t find myself ensnared in the trap of comparison. I’ll see something every once and awhile that strikes a chord of jealousy, but I’ve learned that jealousy isn’t something to be afraid of—it’s information. It’s something to notice and then get curious about, to understand if it’s a genuine desire of mine (and then pray for it!). But overall, I’m honestly, truly really content with my life. 

Not because it’s perfect.
Not because it’s easy.
Not because I’ve cracked the code or found some magical hack.

But honestly? I’m obsessed with saying YES to what God has put on my plate: my marriage, my job, my church, my writing + content creation, building a business I believe in. And these things get my focus. I’m learning that when I live the life God has for me to the full, there’s very little time to sit and envy the girl on my social media feed.

It hasn’t always been this way for me—and it isn’t always this way alllll of the time. There are days and moments when I do get sucked into the comparison trap.

But this is how I stay in the zone of contentment where my feet are planted.

It’s a simple practice that’s been around for ages, and one that I take very seriously.

Delight.

It’s transformed me inside and out these past few years, completely and utterly awakening the stagnant, cynical thoughts, perspectives, and ideals within me and repurposed them into lively, grateful, joyful beams of light. 

The heavenly scent of coffee first thing in the morning.
The streaks of light shining through my window at 3 p.m.
The way three shades of violet melted together in the sky on my drive home from work.
The song “Our House” playing as I shop at Trader Joe’s.
The text from a friend I haven’t heard from in a while.
The just-because gift from someone I love.
The anticipation and excitement of starting a new journal.
The smile from the barista on a tough day.
The hug that lasts just a few seconds longer.
The sight of dear friends sitting around my kitchen table. 

Delight can be as big as the sky, but I’ve found it’s also so much more granular than that—it’s all of the teeny, tiny things that make up our days. Here’s what I’m learning about delight and what continues to ring true for me after years of pursuing it with passion and zeal.

Delight is a practice.
To soak it in—or even see it—we must practice it. To enjoy it, hold it close, and appreciate our life as it is, we must play an active role. How? For me, I jot down these glimmers I see in a notebook, type them in the Notes app, or snap pictures of them in the moment. That way I’m actively acknowledging the delight and have a catalog of it to look back on.

We have to seek out delight.
It can appear in obvious, magnificent ways, but more often than not, it’s hidden in the mundane, softer moments. In the sunlight streaming through the window, the jumbled assortments of books and journals on my coffee table, the way Mitch scratches his hair in a way that is uniquely him. The subtlety makes it that much more rewarding to notice.

The more we seek it, the more we see it.
We can train ourselves to notice the beauty around us. This shift in perspective is what has helped shift the quality of my life.

Delight never stops.
It never disappears, no matter what we think, feel, or see. It’s there. Always. Our finite, ever-shifting humanity will ebb and flow, shifting our perspective right along with it. Which is what leads me to my next discovery.

Delight is not something we can conjure up.
It’s a gift from God. It’s discovering a hundred little gifts He’s sprinkled throughout every day, and there’s nothing sweeter than accepting them with open arms.

Delight is relational.
It always points me back to God. It leaves me saying, “Thank you for this split second that makes me like you and my life that much more.” And I’ve found when I pass along these gleanings to Mitch or a friend, they only seem to multiply. Delight is better shared.

Delight requires us to slow down.
We can’t quickly pass by something and expect to experience delight. Delight requires us to pause, look around, really see what’s in front of us. We don’t experience it by accident.

Delight is not something for some of us.
It’s for everyone. It’s an invitation for every last one of us to experience our lives in a new way. It’s not just for the people who seem to have it all together or have a beautifully curated image online. It’s for you and me in our living rooms and kitchens when no one else can see. It’s there. Always.

God is the ultimate delight.
He is the creme de la creme, the best of the best. All other delight points us to Him. Delighting in Him is what truly fills and satisfies our thirsty souls—the Author and Creator of all things. How lucky are we!

What do you find delightful? How do you practice staying present and enjoying your life? Drop a comment and let me know! xo

With the weather changing, I’m loving my tinted moisturizer more than ever—perfect blend of color + coverage (plus there aren’t any hormone disrupting ingredients 🙂 / Chunky necklace of my dreams / My Nodpod has been put to the test every night for over a year and I’m still obsessed / This book is so great / Chic sunnies for 55% off! 

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Post Scripts

— Preaching to myself here: putting in the time and hard work to build something doesn’t feel glamorous in the moment. But it’s the only way through.

— Another thought on delight creeping up on us—

— Other words I’ve wanted to share with you lately—

— I’m reading The Correspondent right now and oh. My. gosh. It might be one of my favorite books ever. Have you read it? What did you think?!