In your circumstances right now, do you feel like an underdog? Maybe it’s in your marriage or in parenting or at work. Whatever it might be, there is always hope. For example, if you’re a parent, you might look at your friend’s kids or other kids in your neighborhood and say, “Look how well they’re doing in school; why isn’t my child doing that?” or “Their child is on the first team; why is my child third string?”
There’s a temptation for people to question their circumstances and compare their lives to other people’s lives. But there’s one thing that’ll keep you from falling into this trap.
What will keep you from falling into the comparison trap? One word: HOPE. Hope doesn’t mean you’re sitting back and doing nothing about your circumstances. On the contrary, hope implies that you’re taking action; you’re moving forward. Here’s what you can do to change your underdog status and keep hope alive. Just remember to HOPE.
H – Hang out with your family.
Make spending time with your loved ones a top priority. The more time you spend together, the better you will get to know them and the better they’ll get to know you. You’ll have a better idea of what’s going on in their lives, and the purposeful time you spend together will encourage them to confide in you.
O – Organize your life.
I’m not talking about cleaning out your closets or alphabetizing your movie collection. I’m saying to be deliberate and strategic about parenting well, loving your spouse well, doing your work well. When you see an area that needs attention, don’t put it off—act now. And eliminate unnecessary things in your life that keep you from being the parent or spouse or professional you want to be.
P – Perceptions aren’t always what they seem.
When you are measuring your children or your marriage against other kids or marriages, you aren’t seeing the whole picture. All parents and spouses have challenges. All families have challenges. You’re not alone. So don’t fall into that trap. Odds are that other people are looking at your family and wishing their family was like yours. Comparisons of this nature are never truly beneficial, so just skip them altogether. Focus on your own relationships with your family and let the Joneses take care of themselves.
E – Edification is always better than demolition.
When you want your kids to do or be better at something, try building them up! Point out the things they’re doing right. Take a break from the constant critiques and corrections to let them know you see where they excel. Everyone needs encouragement. Make sure your kids and spouse are getting it from you.
I want to encourage you. Continue to keep hope alive, continue to persevere, and continue to take action to keep moving forward. Before you know it, you’ll have moved up in the ranks for a surprise upset, the underdog no more—you’ll be a champion for your family and they’ll have the equipment to be champions in life.
How are you keeping hope alive within your family? Share a comment below.
