Choose Respect, Not Resentment

“I was asking someone else to elevate me when I could actually elevate myself.”-Sue Bryce

Since we were five, we’ve been told not to compare ourselves to others and yet we all secretly do. Either that, or I'm the only person that cares way too much about what other people think. You've been told about your worth, you hear about the joy of service but have you learned specific skills to be happy for others success?

First off, let’s quickly cover the topic of originality and perfection. To be truly original would actually mean that your work doesn’t connect with ANYONE. Jackson Polluck could get people to connect with a seemingly random splotches of paint on canvases and you are telling me you want to be more original than that? No, you want to be recognized for the hard work you've been going through in every aspect of your life through connection. We often look at others and they make what you've been striving for look so EASY so you either believe they got it easy or out of insecurity you think you are not good enough. Austin Kleon covers this topic a bit more in-depth in his book, "Steal Like an Artist." Now that you can see the pain you get from balancing the desire of originality but still wanting what that other artist has. It is totally setting you back from your own happiness, huh.

"Perfectionism will ruin your work." -Yan Palmer

You are flawed, complicated and a mess but the important thing is you are you. You have something to offer that NO ONE ELSE does. So when your work is centered around being perfect, it actually comes across as robotic & boring. Even Mary Poppins would leave when the wind changed (flight vs. fight, am I right? haha) Your life is going to have ups and downs and your audience knows that, life is not perfect and being able to laugh at your mistakes will help others that have been there or are going through something similar.

So what does this have to do with comparision? You have the best product you can offer. Focus on what you can give rather than what is trendy or what others are producing. Instead of wallowing in your own self-pity thinking you can do what they are being paid to do, get out of bed, learn something new, find the project that you're crazy passionate about and do it. You are in charge of yourself and jealousy just leads to resentment and nobody likes working with a pessimistic person. When you see the images you find jaw-dropping, don’t wish you were that person, respect them, figure out how they made that picture so you can make an image that shows YOUR perspective and never stop creating. Your heroes didn't get where they are by luck, they worked hard and you can too. Your voice matters, your work is valuable and creation will take your focus away from others.