I just got out of a 3-day solo offline retreat, and I feel REFRESHED!

My friend passed this experience on to me last year. It's my second year doing it, and I'm hooked. It's pretty wild how much we miss when we're consumed by life's distractions.

A few days away, by yourself, can create immeasurable change. I'll share more about my experience next week after I process it a little more 🙂

Thank you for reading this week!

Social media was slowly killing me

Most people are blind to what they have to offer because they're hypnotized by comparison.

You shuffle your feet to the bathroom and brush your teeth while mindlessly scrolling on social media, checking what everyone else is doing. While the blue light from your phone acts as an artificial sunrise and you flick past strangers online, you score yourself.

"I'm not good enough."

"They have a cooler life."

"I'll never look as good as them."

These might feel like insignificant, fleeting thoughts, but they become self-limiting beliefs with emotional weight that compounds over time. You walk with them hovering over your head, making you believe you're less than everyone else.

I'm not immune to this either. I've struggled with a fair amount of comparison.

I've gone through many seasons where I had to distance myself from social media. I was so caught up in stacking myself against others that I started to feel the weight of my low score.

I believed I had nothing to offer the world.

And as a creative artist and author, that's the closest thing to death.

When we let comparison become our foundation, our self-worth quietly erodes. We lose sight of who we truly are and what we’re capable of offering the world.

There's a possibility that there's a painter within you that the world hasn't seen yet. You bought your first paint kit, but you've convinced yourself you won't be as good as others. The brushes are left unopened and stare at you as you walk by them on the coffee table, as if they're what you've yet to offer.

Comparison is always within reach. But when you choose it, you lose what's already yours.

Book recommendation of the week

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

If you want to tap into a rich, meaningful life, this book will give you something you can only find in these pages. Regardless of what's happening in your life, even in moments of despair, Viktor Frankl's perspective will help you find purpose and build strength.

Thank you for reading. I hope to see you again next week!

Jordan Tarver
Author of ​You Deserve This Sh!t​ and ​Pursuit of Purpose​

p.s. ​Text "INSPO" to 707-289-7047​ to receive free weekly inspirational messages directly from me to your phone. Your data is always secure and kept private. I'll never charge you a penny. I'd love to have you!