Look a little, but don't look a lot.

We all know that life is all about balance.
It’s why we get a diet soda with our bic mac and large fry, right? Ha!
But the thing about balance, is that balance looks different for all of us.

When it comes to the photography (anything creative) industry, it’s a constant struggle for me personally to find balance.
I want to spend time with other creative people so I can let them push me to work harder, to get better and to grow my business.
But then I don’t want to spend so much time at those type of events that I start wishing I was doing more than I can, or wondering why I didn’t think of something before she did, or why her business is running better than mine.

So my simple challenge to you tonight is this.
Look a little, but don’t look a lot.
It doesn’t have to just be with the photography industry.
It can be with your home.
With your parenting.
With your friendships.
With your marriage.
With your ministry even!
We need to know ourselves and be sure that we are guarding our hearts.
After all, that’s where all the issues of life come from, right?

So when do you know when you need to stop looking?
When you start to feel your heart welling up with feelings of discontentment, inadequacy, insecurity, jealousy, irritation, sadness.
It’s pretty amazing how God uses our feelings to give us a warning!
If you feel that feeling in your heart when you look at someone’s blog, or instagram, or business, or home…you know the feeling…
TAKE ACTION!
Look away. Get off the computer.
Get off your phone. Start saying things in your life that you are thankful for.
Use that warning signal and put a stop to the feelings lingering in your mind.
Because when they linger? They have a better chance of getting more comfortable staying there.
And that is not good for you, or for anyone around you.

So sure, look a little. Be around people that will push you to be better.
But don’t look a lot.
Let yourself be yourself.

God’s plan for you is God’s plan for you.
Don’t forget that.