Some days it feels like everyone else is moving faster, doing more, reaching milestones you’re still dreaming about. You start questioning your pace, your purpose, even your worth.
But let me remind you of something simple and true:
You are not behind. You are on your path.
There’s a race that has been set before you. A race that was never meant to look like anyone else’s. And the only way to run it well is to stop chasing someone else’s finish line and start honoring your own.
Every Story is Different
Your story matters—and not because it’s loud, or flashy, or polished.
It matters because it’s yours.
No one else has lived your exact journey.
No one else has overcome what you’ve overcome.
No one else has the unique combination of gifts, experiences, pain, passion, and purpose that you do.
And that’s not accidental; that’s intentional.
Comparison is a lie that tells you your story only matters if it looks like someone else’s.
But the truth is, your story has power because it’s different. Your timing isn’t wrong. Your pace isn’t off. Your path just isn’t meant to be identical to anyone else’s.
I’ve learned to embrace the value of my uniqueness and recognize that I am purposed to live a life that’s authentically my own. This awareness enriches both my personal and professional journey. I am one of a kind, created with a distinct purpose.
The Thief of Comparison
Comparison doesn’t inspire you.
It drains you.
It makes you forget how far you’ve come.
It turns growth into guilt and progress into pressure.
And worst of all, comparison convinces you to shrink—
To silence your voice.
To second-guess your steps.
To settle for survival when you were made to thrive.
But here’s the thing: you don’t thrive by copying someone else’s calling.
You thrive by being fully, fiercely, authentically you.
From Surviving to Thriving
A life of survival feels like constantly having to catch your breath.
Always doing. Always chasing. Always performing.
But thriving? Thriving is different.
Thriving is:
- Waking up with clarity and direction, even if you’re still figuring it out
- Showing up for your life with intention, not obligation
- Saying yes to the things that give you life, and no to what doesn’t
- Embracing your gifts instead of downplaying them
- Knowing you don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be present.
Thriving is living with your whole heart, even when life is messy.
It’s choosing purpose over pressure. Peace over performance. Grace over grind.
Stay in Your Lane
You don’t need to run faster; you need to run focused.
You don’t need more hustle; you need more alignment.
Stop looking side to side.
Start looking within. You were given this lane for a reason. Your gifts, your voice, your experiences, they’re not random. They’re part of the race you’re here to run. And when you stop chasing other people’s timelines, you finally make space for your own transformation.
Here’s how you start:
- Know your why. Why are you running? What matters most to you?
- Honor your pace. Fast progress isn’t the same as true progress.
- Take care of your soul. Rest. Heal. Breathe. You’re no good to your calling if you’re burnt out.
- Celebrate your milestones. No win is too small. Every step counts.
- Let grace lead. You’re allowed to grow slowly. You’re allowed to figure it out as you go.
A Final Word
You were never meant to live life stuck in survival mode.
You were made to live awake, alive, and aware of your own divine design.
So run your race.
Not theirs.
Not the one Instagram tells you to.
Not the one society pressures you to.
Run your race, the one marked by courage, by faith, by progress that maybe no one else sees, but you feel deep in your soul.
Because in the end, it’s not about being the fastest.
It’s about being faithful.
It’s about becoming who you were always meant to be.
Stay in your lane. Honor your pace. Keep going.
Your story is still unfolding—and it’s worth every single step.
#RunYourRace #ThriveNotSurvive #YourPaceYourPower
Women's Mental Health Blog--Dr. Felicia Wilson, LCSW 