Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else. Galatians 6:4
Procrastination Buster Number Four: Don’t compare yourself to others.
Nothing stops the flow of creativity more than comparing myself to others. Usually I’m comparing my insides to their outsides. My rough draft to their finished book. My inside mess to their polished perfection. All my insecurities surface and work stops.
Comparing makes me ungrateful. I can be pleased and thankful for my work – then I walk into a bookstore and begin to compare. Questions arise about my abilities. Doubts surface. Inspiration is lost. I no longer appreciate the unique words that God has given just to me.
Comparing makes me judgmental. I can find myself looking for the weaknesses of others to bolster my own pride. That’s ugly.
Comparing pulls me off course. I can lose heart and focus when I am concerned about what others are doing instead of the work that God gave me to do.
The answer for me is to keep the focus on God and what He has for me to do today. Then I can appreciate my work, celebrate the work of others, and stay on track. Simple! Or is it?
How about you? Do you compare?
Betsy
(Photo of Samson and Peanut by Laurie)
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12: 1-2
I’m always comparing….I need to keep my eyes on God’s purposes for ME!
I’d love to say that I don’t compare, but I do. Constantly. It’s debilitating. And yet, I have not learned not to.
Great picture! Oh yes, it’s hard not to compare, but as long as we’re aware that we’re comparing then we can rise above it and put it in perspective, I bet.
Yes.
Creative Minds all work at a different pace and in different ways! That being said Nanowrites seems to be a great motivator for many!
Great scriptures, and words from you, Betsy. Comparing usually isn’t a good thing, so I rarely indulge in it–but sometimes it sneaks up on us. I have to just stay focused with confidence that God has given me something to say, in my own unique way–and that it is for somebody, even if only for God. Have a blessed rest of the week–love, sis Caddo
I often compare books of just a few years back to books of today, and notice a huge decrease in quality of editing, and even of glue in the spines.
What that does is make me scared to publish, thinking my mistakes will get past an aditor and appear in a book that is prone to falling apart. (Any excuse to be scared, I guess!) I also compare one writer to another, out there, and try to decide who I will emulate, and who, not. I don’t tend to feel adequate to compare my work to others’.Makes me feel confused, at best. What I LOVE to do is see the rough drafts of others, which always make me feel so — at home, I guess. I learn so much from those rare glimpses.