Comparison is a Creativity Killer 

Comparison places all of your focus on someone else, trapping you in a constant analyzation of what they have that you seem to lack. Comparison limits your perspective and redefines "good" and "valuable" as belonging only to a specific set of skills or gifts or style possessed by someone else. 

Can I tell you a secret? Comparison is a liar.

While comparison tries to keep you occupied with your head down focused on someone else, you miss everything beautiful and unique about yourself! Comparison lies because YOU are so powerful. Its goal is to keep you from seeing who you really are and stepping into all of your potential. 

So, how do you escape comparison's trap? 

Stop listening.

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Stop Listening

Comparison's πŸ’© only works if you listen to it. Ignore it. You get to choose which thoughts live in your mind. Your mind is vital to your creativity and you need to be proactive to protect your thoughts.

You don't have time or space to listen to comparison's lies, you've got creative work to do! 

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Pay attention to the thoughts that race through your mind, if you notice that you're starting to compare yourself to someone else shut it out! 

Shift Your Focus

Now that you've stopped listening to comparison's lies, you can start looking at what you bring to the table. You have gifts, talents, experiences, ideas, connections, relationships, and perspective that shapes and flavors your creative expression in a unique way.

The world is waiting for your unique creative expression. If you don't release it, we will all miss out on something amazing! But you're not going to be able to express it if you are trying to make it look like someone else. Be YOU!

It won't be perfect at first, no one is - even prodigies practice! Everyone has to start somewhere and you might as well start exploring your creativity today!

β€œToday you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - β€‹Dr Seuss​​

"Comparison kills creativity. Escape the trap! Shift your focus to your unique creative expression." @brightideascollective #comparison #brightideas

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10 Tips for 10 Days

I participated in a LinkedIn challenge called 10 Tips for 10 Days and recorded ten quick videos on a variety of topics, including comparison!

Actions

  • Recognize what you bring to the table. You have unique gifts, talents, ideas, and superpowers that the world is waiting to see! Start to give yourself a little credit and see where your ideas take you!

  • Shut comparison down. Comparison will keep talking as long as you keep listening. Take a few minutes to listen to the lies that Comparison is repeating. Write them down. Say them out loud. Are they really true about you? I'd be willing to bet that they're not. Even if there is a grain of truth, it's viewing you through a distorted lens.

  • Get a better narrative. God is the Ultimate Source of creativity. He made you and everything that he makes is good. Take a couple minutes to ask for his perspectives on those lies that Comparison has tried to feed you. Write down some of his thoughts and use them to combat comparison whenever it tries to rear its ugly head. You get to choose your thoughts. Choose wisely.

  • Take care of your Mind-house. In the book, Bright Ideas: Light Up Your Creativity, we talk about dealing with thoughts and keeping a guard on your Mind-house. If this is an area of struggle for you, check out the chapters on thoughts and comparison.

"You get to choose which thoughts get to live in your head, and which ones to reject. You get to choose to either cultivate cultivate comparison or your creativity." @brightideascollective #brightideas #comparison

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Learn More about Creative Leadership

Bright Ideas: Light Up Your Creativity. If you'd like to learn more about Creative Leadership and expressing your creativity, grab a copy of our book, Bright Ideas: Light Up Your Creativity from our shop or Amazon.

Emily Lewin

Emily Lewin is the founder of The Bright Ideas Collective, co-author of "Bright Ideas: Light Up Your Creativity", host of the Bright Ideas Collective Podcast, speaker, musician, artist, and all-around lover of creativity. She loves long beach days, exploring new cities, drinking good coffee, and being with her people. Emily is passionate about helping other people discover, explore, and express their creativity and building creative communities.

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