“Why does someone else’s success quietly bother me?”… Most men don’t realize when comparison starts. It doesn’t arrive as jealousy in the beginning. It shows up as a distraction. You notice what someone else is building. How fast they’re moving. How visible they are. Their “followers” and influence.. Without meaning to, your attention leaves your own life and focuses on theirs. That’s where the damage happens. Comparison doesn’t usually make you quit or cause you to act urgently. It makes you hesitate. You pause longer than you should or would have. You question work you were once confident and joyful in. You delay action waiting for a new clarity that never comes because it was never meant to be your focus. There’s a strange comfort in watching others live. No risk. No exposure. No responsibility. But there’s a cost. Scripture speaks to this, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” 1 Peter 4:10 NIV Not someone else’s gift. Yours. Talents aren’t ranked. They’re entrusted. By God. For you, specifically. When you measure yourself against another man, you abandon stewardship. You stop tending what’s been placed in your hands and start staring at a field you were never asked to work. We’ve all heard the saying “everyone wants what they don’t have” and that is the work of the enemy. In real life it looks like this. A man gifted with stability envies momentum. A man built for depth compares himself to speed. A father with influence at home feels small next to public, material success. Nothing is wrong with your gifts. The problem is where your eyes are. Here’s the trade most men don’t see. Comparison offers: Short-term motivation A sense of urgency Something to react against But it takes: Peace Clarity Forward motion Faithfulness doesn’t usually public influence. It feels quiet, lonely, and narrow. And narrow paths don’t invite spectators. But they do require commitment and they do lead to a fulfilling life. So sit with this question today,

Why do I feel guilty when I rest? Have you ever noticed this? The moment you slow down, your mind speeds up. You sit on the couch, lie in bed, or take a break and instead of feeling restored, you feel behind. Like you should be doing something else. Like we’ve been taught that rest is only for the weak… That guilt is common, especially for men who carry responsibility. Providers. Leaders. Builders. Rest starts to feel like weakness and laziness, instead of wisdom. But, there is the hope. Rest is not quitting. It is alignment with Gods plan. Scripture addresses this directly. “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for He grants sleep to those He loves.” Psalm 127:2 NIV That word vain matters. It does not mean work is bad. It means striving without trust is. God designed the body and mind with rhythms. When rest is ignored, clarity drops, patience thins, and presence disappears, even if effort and drive stays high. Here is the reframe we need. Rest is not the opposite of discipline. It is part of it. Real life shows this clearly. Training hard but never sleeping well leads to injury and burnout. Working late every night dulls decision making. Being physically present with family but mentally exhausted creates distance. Even Jesus withdrew to quiet places to rest and pray. Not because He was tired of people, but because rest sharpened His obedience. So, carry this question into today: Am I resting with trust, or am I running from it? Here is today’s active stillness challenge. Take five quiet minutes. No phone. No noise. Sit comfortably or even lie down. Breathe slowly. Ask God one honest question. “Where are You inviting me to rest?” Do not resist the answer. After that stillness, move with intention. Choose one. Go to bed thirty minutes earlier tonight. Or take a ten minute walk with no destination or distractions. Leave the phone behind. Or sit quietly after dinner, no screen, letting your nervous system settle and just breathe.

If you’re here, chances are you’ve felt it before. That quiet sense of not quite fitting the mold. That nudge to take a different path, even when it doesn’t make sense to everyone else. That tension between what’s expected of us and what we feel God calling us toward. This space, Right Here, exists for that exact reason. This isn’t a place to impress anyone. It's not about cliche motivation or pretending we have it all figured out. It’s a room for men who think differently. Who feel early. Who know what they should do, but don’t want to walk it alone. Here’s how we keep this space solid: • We’re honest • We’re respectful • We’re present • We speak from our own experience • We leave people better than we found them Let’s get this started 👇 Introduce yourself below: 1. Where you’re from 2. What made you realize you might be a “black sheep” 3. What season of life or decision you’re currently navigating No pressure to overshare. Just be real. This community will only be as powerful as we choose to make it. Glad we’re here. We’re not early. We’re not late. We’re right on time. Let’s walk this road together. 🤝