Three Tips To Avoid The Comparison Trap
I’m so thrilled right now to be immersed in my 8-week signature program, The Pattern Design Academy, with a new group of students. We’re in week one of the Class of May 2020 and it’s an exhilarating and exciting time for everyone.
Today’s blog post is about avoiding comparison and three tips I’d like to share with you that can help when you find yourself falling into the comparison trap.
What is the comparison trap? It happens fairly often at the beginning of a new journey. At the beginning of a bike trip you’re taking with others. At the beginning of an online course you’re taking. At the beginning of a new creative journey that you are embarking upon.
It’s a very natural thing that when you’re in a new group and everyone is introducing themselves that you start to compare yourself to those around you. Those voices in the back of your mind start saying things like:
“Oh dear. Look at all these talented people. I’m not an artist. What am I doing here…”
Or
“Everyone is so much farther along than me. I’ll never catch up…”
Or
“I’m older than some of the people here. I don’t think I’ll be able to keep up…”
When you hear these voices in your ear, acknowledge them but then try these three tips. I think they’ll help ensure you don’t quit before you’ve even really started.
#1 Re-affirm Your Why
You joined this new course or online community for a reason. You had a very compelling desire to learn a new skill, lean into your creativity and put your artwork out into the world. Remember that reason. Write it down. Make it an affirmation that you repeat to yourself whenever you hit a bump in the road. Create a pretty illustration with it and post it on your wall. Look at it often and celebrate that you’ve taken action and are moving forward towards your goals.
#2 Do The Work
Focus on the learning. Watch the video lessons. Do the practice homework. Work at your own pace. This is the time to lean into your creativity and enjoy practicing each new skill that you’ve acquired. Don’t rush. Your way of absorbing information is going to be unique to you. Celebrate the fact that you love to download the cheat sheets and mark them up with your own notes. Or set up a split screen so that you can watch the videos and toggle between them and doing the exact steps yourself inside Adobe Illustrator.
#3 Celebrate Every Win
This is my favorite tip because we don’t celebrate ourselves enough when we’re learning something new. We’re more often than not saying things like: “Well, this isn’t very good but I’m going to post it anyway.” How about flipping that around and saying: “Yay for me! I just completed this whole process from start to finish and I’m feeling really proud of myself.” The community around you will cheer you on and you’ll set a great example for others to follow.
I’m so grateful and blessed to be an online educator with a passion for teaching surface pattern design. I have to run now to jump into our private Facebook group to see what questions people have and what I can do to help them keep moving forward.
See you next week!
Remember,
It’s Never Too Late to Create
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
