What nobody is talking about on LinkedIn!

I've gotten myself into a pickle these past few weeks.

I've taken my eyes off my test paper and started studying the faces of everyone in the exam hall to see how they were doing instead of focusing on my own damn test! (metaphorically speaking of course).

Yep, the rocky mistake of "comparison"! And the result was: A lot of spiraling, no, freaking out basically for feeling left behind while everybody else progressed in unimaginable ways!

For business owners, freelancers, and employees, this platform can be quite toxic if one isn't mindful and grounded.

Projection is insane

It's uncanny how many people here share their personal experiences as absolute facts.

This can easily lead us to believe that there's only one way to do things.

An open-minded individual is one who doesn't "project" their own thoughts, experiences, and biases onto other people. This "unicorn??" understands that people have different upbringings and experiences, and they take this as a foundational fact of any conversation.

You can use your own experiences to help others, but don't "assume" they've had the same exact journey as you! Instead of "jumping to conclusions," ask questions.

Comparison kills creativity

I was emotionally invested in this platform, until I was aware of my emotions after the fact. Left with so much resentment for myself (why haven't I gotten more certificates, how come I haven't gotten an investor for my venture, etc.).

You're on your own route. It's different than anybody else's. The "timing" is different. Your "priorities" are different. The "decisions" you made (which got you here) are different. And there are a hundred other factors that you have no control over.

With that being said, a few things that worked for me and could work for you:

• Seeing the work of others can spark new ideas and inspire us to push our own creative boundaries.
• By analyzing the work of others, we can learn new techniques and approaches that we can incorporate into our own work.

• Seeing the success of others can motivate us to work harder and strive for excellence.
• News stories, social media posts, and other sources of information often present a simplified version of events. Digging deeper can reveal missing details and context.
• Your unique perspective and experiences are what make your work special. Don't try to be someone else; be yourself.
• Take pride in your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem.
• Be kind to yourself and don't beat yourself up for mistakes or setbacks.

You're your own mentor

Some people told me they have benefited from a mentor or a coach in their business or life. That might be true, but in my opinion, effective mentorship or coaching requires the following:

- Your mentor/coach understands very well that all people come from different social, cultural, financial, and religious backgrounds. They don't project their own experiences and background onto you!! And they understand that there are a 100 routes to get you there, they don't stick to the route they know!

- They ask questions and listen without bias, they ask about the reasons that made the person in front of you make certain decisions in a certain way. The questions gives them everything they need to be able to guide the person in front of them in the best way.

- They remember that their role is to guide, not to make decisions for you, and make you trust that you are the one who makes the decision, and that you will bear the consequences no matter what.

- Their role is to understand your personality and help you understand your personality (This will help them highlight the common grounds between you too and communicate in a better way)

- They don't tell you "do this", tell them...etc." Instead, they say "if I were in your place I would do this". They teach you the correct way to make decisions on your own. They give you a clear framework and help you with the thought process.

Question EVERYTHING

We receive thousands of pieces of information per day (from people around us, social media, and even our own thoughts). What you need to know is that very few of these are "Postulates." Almost everything is open to interpretation, and not many people or platforms are fact-checking, so not much of this information is actually factual.

So maybe, maybe, start thinking for yourself and question the info/advice you receive. Challenge your usual thought patterns and understand your own biases about things and people around you.

Nobody is going to save you

In the mist of the situation, you might delude ourselves into thinking that someone's going to make this difficult decision for you; just because you do tough decisions all day. But the truth is, no one is going to save you. You're going to have to do it yourself. ??

This is the only way to strengthen your mind and decrease your "down time" when you're struggling with life, work, business, or anything else.

You know all the answers

When you can see an opportunity that nobody else can see, it's because the veil was lifted just for you! When you're presented with challenges, it means you're capable of solving them if you dig deep for the answer. You're not burdened beyond your capacity.

People, books, and the internet are resources to help you figure things out. USE THEM! And maybe stop waiting for external validation or someone to answer your questions, because nobody can.

Faith, since you can't control everything!

Faith in the process is underrated! You plan, strategize, put in 110%, then what?

It's super comforting to be in control, hell, some of us even need it to survive. But it's exhausting and unrealistic to be in control all the time.

If you genuinely try your best every single day, you can't fail! You have to want it!

God is watching, and he rewards those who want it the most. If you want it the most, you can have it! There is no shortage of money or clients in this universe. It's simply (or not so simply): Plan + Do your best + Believe.

Finally, LET YOUR INTUITION GUIDE YOU. Your gut feelings can provide valuable insights. Pay attention to your intuition and don't be afraid to trust it. If something doesn't feel right, it's because it isn't!