It’s confession time…I’m dealing with the meh people in my life right now. We all have those people in our lives. They aren’t your archenemy, but they aren’t your best friend either. And no, they’re not in between, because then they’d be just ok. These people are who I call the meh people. For some reason or another, you have these few good people with whom you just have ill feelings towards. I mean, they’re GOOD PEOPLE, but yet, here I am hoping my life is better than yours.

Have you ever:

• Been glad when someone gained weight (and didn’t need to)?
• Hoped someone would fail at an assignment at work?
• Felt smug when someone looked stupid in a group of people?
• Felt a little satisfaction when someone was under-dressed?
• Basically wished they wouldn’t be as awesome as you?

No, these aren’t the big things, like wishing their life is a total mess or hoping they’re dealing with addiction or a broken family. No, no, no. This is just wishing that something little doesn’t work out, like they don’t nail their presentation because then they’d look better than you. In other words, you are somehow in competition with these people in your mind, and you have to win…at whatever thought cost.

So, I’ve been following my thoughts back, and I’m realizing they’re rooted in my lack of value for myself. Somewhere along the line, I categorized a portion of me as meh, and I need to put others down in that area so that I feel better about myself. Let me put it this way, belittling others is a coping mechanism for my shortcomings. You know, instead of actually addressing me.

So, I addressed my perception of MY value. What do I perceive is taking away from my value? Is it my weight? Lack of a skill, knowledge or resources? I had to affirm my value (like say it out loud and think it), in spite of my shortcomings, because they have nothing to do with my value-or yours for that matter.

Then, I addressed THEIR value, the meh people. I placed value on them. I gave that to them. They don’t need it, but I needed to do it. And continually do it. Because value is not mutually exclusive. You can have value, and I can have value too. One does not take from the other.  I need to see they have a nice body, and it doesn’t make me look better or worse in a bikini. I need to see them excel in front of people, and it doesn’t make me any less charming or influential.

So the next time you feel…meh…about someone, remind yourself how awesome you are…and then you’ll see they’re awesome too.