Measuring Up

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“I don’t measure up.” Having heard that from my own children, from those I have taught, and having felt it myself from time to time, my thoughts began centering around what someone actually means when they say those words.

What is it we are not measuring up to? Are our expectations unrealistic? Are we unwilling to push ourselves to do better? Or are we merely comparing ourselves to someone else, whose strengths — and weaknesses — are different from ours?

Satan has quite a tool in the “comparison” thing. We most always come up losers, feeling as though we are not as competent, as smart, as talented, or as accomplished as the next guy. Our ability to judge ourselves properly is compromised because of the seeming need to compare ourselves with everyone around us — when our journey is a personal one.

What other people are doing, where they are going, or how they are progressing is their own concern. Our interest should be in how we are doing compared to how we were doing yesterday, or last week, or last year. Imagine the anxiety that would fall by the way as we give up the idea of measuring up to someone else!

Who is exactly like me? No one. Who thinks exactly as you do? No one. Isn’t that great? Because we are uniquely individual, our measuring stick is strictly personal, based on our own development, thoughts, needs, and talents. With those abilities, we come to appreciate our own growth and ability to help, serve, and learn. We can celebrate each day as we learn a little more, serve in our appointed place, and make this world a better one in which to live. Although it may sound easy and cheesy, it works. Because it is based upon righteous and true principles.

The poet Edgar Guest offered some wise counsel when he penned these words:

Who does his task from day to day
And meets whatever comes his way,
Believing God has willed it so,
Has found true greatness here below.

Who guards his post, no matter where,
Believing God must need him there,
Although but lowly toil it be,
Has risen to nobility.

For great and low, there’s but one test:
‘Tis that each man shall do his best.
Who works with all the strength he can
Shall never die in debt to man.

Personal abilities and weaknesses, personal tasks and growth — each day becomes easier to enjoy as we learn to make it a truly personal journey, tossing comparisons to our peers out the window.

Interestingly, as we cease the peer comparison, we focus more easily on our great example: the Savior. His loving grace and perfect example gives us energy and strength to continually improve our own abilities. Our desire to measure up shifts from comparisons with others to a hunger to continually become more like Christ himself.

President David O. McKay said it this way: “That man is most truly great who is most Christlike. What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be.”

Today, we can decide to stop comparing our lifestyle, our hair, our grades, or our body shape to anyone else. We can stop worrying about measuring up to anyone in the world. We are then free to enjoy our very own life, ‘measuring up’ little by little and day by day, to the Savior’s way.