Comparison kills creativity. Stop comparing… and start creating.

Comparing ourselves to others can hit quickly and without warning.

Comparison can kill your creativity. It can make you feel small, insecure and uninspired. These negative feelings can stop you from writing at all.

Often comparison strikes when you’re innocently scanning through other blogs online and you find someone who wrote something similar to your idea. Or maybe they’ve written more books, or created more art or have a better designed blog and you feel like their stuff is perfect and that yours is not.

It’s these moments of comparison that you’re at a crossroads and you have to choose: Do I stay stuck in the negative comparison game or do I find a way to use those self-defeating beliefs as kindling for my creative fire?

Find ways to Keep Creating Anyways…

Comparing who we are and what we’re doing, to others can feel like someone sucker punched you in the gut.

You feel the breath leave your body, and it feels like you’ve lost before you ever really had a chance to begin.

But’s it is critical that you keep writing anyways.  Find ways to get your writing out there, because your words matter. It matters to you and to your readers.

I’ve had many moments when I stuck my foot in the comparison pothole, trying desperately to yank my proverbial foot out so I could stand on my own again.

I’ve learned that the more we are aware of our feelings during these moments, the stronger we begin to stand as we know ourselves as humans and as writers.

As we develop our awareness, that’s when our words begin to have more impact and beauty.

Here are three ways to turn comparison into creativity:

1. Rethink Your Perspective

Instead of dwelling on what you lack in comparison to someone else, notice what it is that you admire in the other person.

Think of looking at what you appreciate about the other person as a reflection of the possibilities that are inside of you.

Write down what some of those possibilities could be.

Those specific details that you admire about the other person are a doorway of possibility for you. You just haven’t walked through the door yet.

Think of comparison as a way of shining a light on what is possible for you.

2. When Dissatisfied, Write Anyway

If you’re feeling unhappy with where you’re at with what you’ve written or done, write anyway.

Writing is a calling. So if when you don’t feel like it, write. Trust the process. Believe that as you continue to write it will help heal and guide you through these feelings.

Writing brings healing, joy and inspiration. It helps us think things through when we’re going through challenges.

What helps me, is when I write what Julia Cameron calls Morning Pages. I write three hand written pages every morning and just the act of writing all the thoughts in my head, clears my brain so I’m more focussed. Writing in this journal also brings clarity and a deeper awareness of who I am and reminds me of possibilities.

3. Put Your Work into the World

There’s something about writing that blogpost, writing those first few chapters of your fiction book or your non-fiction book and sharing your words with the world, that is empowering.

It might seem unhelpful and feel uncomfortable to share what you have to say when you’re caught in the comparison trap, but this giving away of your work, actually empowers you and helps you own your writing.

Shipping your work out into the world, builds confidence. Sharing your words gives you more clarity and direction.

Generosity has it’s own rewards: Breathes new life into your words; Increases motivation; and develops strategies of how to propel your work forward.

Remember comparison doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks. You can switch your perspective and turn your thinking around and help you move forward.

Keep writing through all the uncomfortable emotions that come up. Learn and grow through them.

Most of all, keep writing. Keep creating. Keep being the amazing you, you are.

Keep moving forward and you will feel more empowered, alive and creative.

Do you struggle at times with the comparison trap? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.