An honest reflection on jealousy, comparison, faith, and supporting fellow makers.
Lately, I've found myself thinking a lot about my fellow makers.
And I'm going to be a little vulnerable here because there's something I've been struggling with that I don't particularly like admitting.
Jealousy.
There. I said it.
I've absolutely allowed social media to stir jealousy within me. I've caught myself looking at other makers' businesses, their beautiful products, their displays, their accomplishments, and thinking, Wow, they're so much further along than I am. I really need to step up my game.
And do I need to step up my game? Absolutely! There is always room for improvement, learning, and growing.
But at what cost?
And why in the world am I allowing someone else's success to make me question my own?
That's the part that really bothers me.
There are several makers I've found myself comparing my business to, and for the longest time, I couldn't quite figure out why. It's not that I dislike these people. It's not that I don't want them to succeed. In fact, if any one of them called me tomorrow needing help, advice, or encouragement, I would help them every single time.
So why does seeing their success sometimes stir something in me that I don't like?
I've been doing a lot of thinking about that.
And I believe part of it comes down to something very simple.
I'm looking at how far others have come while forgetting how far I've come myself.
We're Not All Walking the Same Journey
Some of you know that I stepped away from my business for a season.
I needed that time. My mom needed me, and I needed to be with her.
And if I had the opportunity to go back and make that decision again, I would make the exact same choice.
Not one bit of business growth, not one sale, not one new retail location would have been worth trading that time with my mom.
But here's where I've had to be honest with myself.
While I stepped away, other makers continued building their businesses. They continued creating, growing, and making connections.
And when I returned, I found myself looking at where they were and feeling like I should be further along.
But why?
Why would I compare my journey to theirs when our circumstances weren't even the same?
The truth is, that break gave me something I didn't even realize I needed for Simple Farm Life.
I came back with a different perspective. I began looking at my products, my brand, and the purpose behind what I was creating differently.
I didn't just come back to pick up where I left off. I came back with a renewed focus.
Yet somehow, social media had me questioning whether I was doing enough.
Isn't that something?
I don't regret stepping away. I know that was exactly where I needed to be. But I've realized that even when we're confident in the decisions we've made, we can still struggle with feeling like we're behind.
And maybe that's part of the problem. Somewhere along the way, I've started measuring my progress against what everyone else is doing instead of recognizing what I've accomplished and why I'm doing it.
When Did We Become Competition?
The more I've thought about this, the more I've wondered why we look at other makers as competition in the first place.
Now, don't misunderstand me. I know we're all running businesses. We need to make sales, cover expenses, and hopefully make a profit. Some of us depend on that income to help support our families.
I'm not suggesting we ignore the business side of what we do.
But why does someone else making a similar product sometimes make us feel like there's less room for ours?
Two people can make soap and have completely different approaches. Two people can pour candles and create something entirely different. We may use similar ingredients, sell at the same markets, or even appeal to the same customers.
But that doesn't make us the same.
We each have our own stories, methods, creativity, and reasons for doing what we do.
And honestly, I think there's room for that.
I've never particularly liked the idea that two makers selling similar products shouldn't be able to share the same space. I understand wanting variety, but I also believe customers should have the opportunity to discover what makes each business unique.
Someone may love another maker's products and still find something they love about mine.
And that's okay!
We don't have to be the only person doing something to be successful at it.
Someone else's success doesn't mean there's less opportunity for me.
That's something I'm learning to remind myself of, especially when comparison starts creeping in.
Because I don't want to look at another maker and immediately wonder what they're doing better than me.
I want to be able to recognize what they're doing well, appreciate it, learn from it, and continue building what God has placed in my hands.
### Many Members, One Body
All of these thoughts have brought me back to a passage of Scripture I've been reflecting on.
1 Corinthians 12:12–31.
Paul talks about the body having many members, each with a different purpose, yet all belonging to one body.
In verse 18, we're reminded that God arranged the members of the body as He chose.
And in verse 21, Paul writes:
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you.'"
That really got me thinking.
God has given each of us different gifts, talents, abilities, and opportunities.
Some people are incredible at marketing. Others have a gift for creating beautiful products. Some have an eye for presentation, while others have a wealth of knowledge they're able to share.
Why do we spend so much time wishing we had someone else's gifts instead of recognizing and developing the ones God has already given us?
Now, I understand that Paul is speaking about the body of Christ, not small businesses. But I believe there's something we can learn from this passage about how we treat one another.
Especially those of us who profess to follow Christ.
Verse 25 speaks about the members having the same care for one another.
And verse 26 says:
"If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."
That last part really challenges me.
Do I genuinely rejoice when other makers succeed?
Or do I congratulate them while quietly wondering why I haven't accomplished the same things?
That's an uncomfortable question.
But it's one I believe is worth asking.
Because if I truly believe God has given each of us different gifts and purposes, why would I allow someone else's gifts to make me question my own?
What Does Coming Alongside One Another Actually Look Like?
We hear it all the time.
Support small businesses. Shop local. Support handmade.
And I absolutely believe in all those things.
But I think supporting fellow makers should go beyond a catchy phrase or sharing a post about shopping small.
What does it actually look like to come alongside someone?
Maybe it's celebrating when another maker gets their products into a new store, even if that's something you've been working toward yourself.
Maybe it's recommending their products when someone is looking for something you don't offer.
Maybe it's sharing information about a vendor event, a packaging supplier, or something you've learned through trial and error.
Maybe it's offering encouragement to someone who's just starting out or struggling to make their first few sales.
Maybe it's collaborating on a gift set, sharing a booth, or simply being willing to stand beside another maker selling similar products without feeling threatened.
And sometimes it may be as simple as sending someone a message to tell them they're doing a wonderful job.
We don't have to give away every formula, business strategy, or trade secret to help someone else succeed.
We don't have to purchase everything another maker creates.
And we certainly don't have to pretend we're not trying to grow our own businesses.
But we can choose to encourage rather than discourage.
We can choose to share what we've learned rather than make someone else struggle through every mistake we've already made.
And we can choose to celebrate another person's accomplishments without immediately comparing them to our own.
Making room for someone else doesn't mean giving up your own place at the table.
The Part I'm Still Working Through
I wish I could tell you that recognizing jealousy within myself made it disappear.
It hasn't.
But I am recognizing it for what it is.
And I don't want to allow it to grow into something that changes how I see or treat other people.
I've had to ask myself some difficult questions.
Am I actually jealous of other makers, or am I frustrated because I think I should be further along?
Am I appreciating what I've accomplished, or am I so busy looking at everyone else's progress that I've stopped seeing my own?
And perhaps the biggest question of all:
Can I genuinely celebrate the success of others without making it a reflection of my own?
I believe I can. But I also recognize that it's something I need to be intentional about.
And I don't think I'm the only one who struggles with this.
Social media has a way of showing us everyone else's accomplishments while reminding us of everything we haven't finished.
We see their beautiful displays, their new products, their announcements, and their growing businesses.
But we don't necessarily see the struggles, mistakes, sacrifices, or disappointments behind those accomplishments.
Meanwhile, we know every single one of our own.
It's a terribly unfair comparison, isn't it?
And I think that's why it's so important to talk about these things.
Not because I want anyone to feel guilty for being successful. Quite the opposite.
I want to learn to celebrate that success without allowing it to diminish how I see my own journey.
A More Excellent Way
At the end of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes:
"And I will show you a still more excellent way."
And then we move into chapter 13.
Love.
And right there in verse 4 are three words that have made me think even more deeply about this whole situation.
"Love does not envy."
Ouch.
Because it's easy to say we love and support others.
It's another thing to examine what's happening in our hearts when others receive the recognition, opportunities, or success we've been hoping for.
I don't believe we have to pretend those feelings don't exist.
But I do believe we have a responsibility to recognize them and decide what we're going to do with them.
For me, that means learning to celebrate other makers without comparison. It means continuing to improve my own business without feeling threatened by the progress of others.
It means sharing what I've learned, offering encouragement, and being willing to help fellow makers when I can.
And it means remembering why I started Simple Farm Life in the first place.
Not to be better than someone else.
Not to have the prettiest display or the most products.
But to create something meaningful, serve others, and use the gifts God has given me with purpose.
So Here's My Challenge, to Myself First
The next time you see another maker accomplish something wonderful, celebrate them.
Leave that encouraging comment.
Share their business when you have the opportunity.
Recommend them.
Offer help when you can.
And if you find yourself feeling a little jealous, maybe don't immediately push that feeling aside.
Ask yourself why.
Is it really about those other makers? Or is it something within yourself that needs a little attention?
I'm asking myself those same questions.
Because I don't want to build a business that looks successful on the outside while allowing comparison and jealousy to take root on the inside.
I want to be the kind of maker who makes room for others.
The kind who encourages, teaches, learns, and celebrates.
The kind who remembers that we're all people trying to do something meaningful with the gifts we've been given.
And maybe, just maybe, if we start coming alongside one another instead of constantly comparing ourselves, we'll discover that there's room for all of us.
Simple. Honest. Beautiful.
Rooted in faith, made with purpose.
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Scripture for reflection: [1 Corinthians 12:12–31 (ESV)](https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.12.12-31.ESV)
