In my own journey, this change in my perception has led to a life more fulfilling than I could ever imagine. I see people for the strength in their character rather than how strong they are - I appreciate their ability to be empathetic over athletic. I believe God has given us all gifts - the true beauty that lies within each of us is the ability to use them for something that's bigger than ourselves.

There's a podcast I love by Ed Mylett where he speaks about meeting God and what it'd be like. He says his hope is that when they meet, God introduces him to the man he had planned for him to be and they're identical twins. His greatest fear is that they'd meet and they're nothing alike - all that potential would have gone unused.

That's a powerful thought, isn't it? Rather than comparing ourselves to others, it forces us to be introspective and focus on being the best version of the only person we can actually improve - ourselves.

My hope for you with this month's Pearl is that rather than comparing yourself, you appreciate the talents of others and enjoy the journey as you seek to find your own.