There are lots of quotes, posters and, self-help podcasts that all say the same thing that I am about to say again. STOP comparing yourself to others. Sadly, that's where they stop. No further advice is given on trying to negate this very human instinct of ours. What I believe should be said is 'stop comparing your self and start analysing the work'.
We compare ourselves on a near minute by minute basis. Walking down the street we casually glance into windows or at passers-by and, whether or not you will admit it or are even aware of it, you will judge, categories and, filter what you see with your own sphere of experience. It's near impossible not to, mostly because a lot of it can be happening without us really putting any conscious effort into it.
Social media has made this worse. In fact, it may have made it into an illness. Being shown hundreds of images and comments a day often with little than a few seconds for each piece of content, a comparison has become a near-automatic act. This automation allows Instagram to target that 'I want' feeling and make money off you through click-throughs and indirect sales. Not to put it too mildly, this IS making us miserable. Add to this that a lot of what you see is SPECTACULARLY curated and I suppose the solution is super simple. We simply stop using social media, right? Great! problem solved. You can stop reading.
Oh but you like social media. Of course, you do, that's what addiction does. You will fight for it even if it is harmful because it pushes the right buttons (specifically the ones related to dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins) in your head to keep you wanting more. But what if we could rewrite how we treat this addiction. Instead of simply comparing, what about we make every image or post or piece of content a learning experience. What if we made ourselves better from them rather than physically sick.
I have started to analyse the images that I like on instagram and, critically, dissect them. From pose to location, lighting to use of shadows I look for what I like and don't like. I then use what experience I have to decide if it is real or not. If not, then again I try to figure what has been done in post to make this image look like it does. Every image becomes a learning experience rather than just an urge or feeling programmed into me. The analysis gives you back the power of the content you see rather than being a victim of it.
Finnaly, this little cliche is really important, your first draft should NEVER be compared to someones published novel. Learning, practise and failure bring us better and better images/ writing/painting/anything! Go fail. Analyse these failures and get better, fail better.
Stop Comparing and start Analysing
GOALS - WTF are they and how to start them
What do you want?
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