Do you compare your skills to others?

If there is one statement that I hear fabulously talented people say more often than anything, it’s this: 

“I’m worried that I’m not good enough!”

We all live with doubts about our abilities to achieve success.

Most of us battle that inner critical voice telling us that we are not as talented or creative or accomplished as our heroes and muses.

And although most of these insecurities start in childhood, we now live in a world where platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram only amplify those fears.

Beach-fit bodies, insanely beautiful living rooms and flawless creativity are thrown across the internet!

Like giant “Look how fabulous I am”  banners, it can sometimes feel that they are designed so we can marvel at how ‘perfect’ everyone else’s lives are and inevitably how imperfect ours are by comparison!

Even though we know that what we are seeing is a carefully curated show, we still compare!

“Compare-itis’ as I call it, is an epidemic amongst brilliantly creative minds.

It can stop a business before it even starts.

It allows us to play small, safe and invisible.

It stops us from claiming our true worth and living out our purpose with confidence, clarity and joy.

But here’s the truth….…

No-one else can do ‘you’ like YOU!

No one else on this planet has your unique set of experience, talent or perspective, which literally makes you ‘one of a kind!’

So if you are stuck in a cycle of feeling ‘less than’ compared to others, I’m going to invite you to read on.

1. Focus on where you want to go…not on those who are already there. 

We tend to compare ourselves to those who have already achieved similar goals to our own.

While this can be a source of huge inspiration, it can also leave us feeling overwhelmed and inadequate.

Focus instead on mapping out small, achievable steps that lead towards your goal.

For example. If you desire to have a social media following of 10K, set a goal of gaining 10 new followers, then 20, then 30.

By achieving the small goals, you will gain confidence and will be far less likely to give up.

2. Develop Self-Kindness

Be gentle with yourself and patient with your progress. Rome really wasn’t built in a day and every craft, talent and business takes time to refine.

One of my favourite quotes is: “It has to be messy before it’s beautiful.”

Focus on what you can do and give yourself a compliment each day. 

3. Use Visualisation 

Take 5 mins every day to imagine yourself feeling confident and achieving a big goal. Try to focus on how you feel having achieved it…the joy, the excitement and pride etc.

4. Develop a ‘Solution Mindset.’

We often turn to other people when we are stuck. We seek inspiration. We seek solutions.

We think that the key to our own success might be found by looking at what someone else is doing. The problem with this, is that what works for one person probably won’t work for another.

Focus instead on problem-solving.

Journalling can be so useful for this. Allow your mind to brainstorm ideas

Trust that only YOU have the answers.

5. Get support 

Coaching provides one of the most effective tools for releasing any type of self-limiting belief, by focusing on tailor-made solutions.  

If you are not yet ready for coaching, then I would suggest finding a Mastermind Partner. This is someone who can keep you on track and champion your corner!

So the next time you compare yourself to another, try to consciously catch yourself doing it. 

Remind yourself that there is only one YOU!

Embrace your uniqueness with all it’s possible messiness!

(And remember too…it’s always our flaws that make us so much more interesting than our strengths!)

Wishing you all a gorgeously creative week!

PS. If you’d like a FREE 30 min Skype call to find out if coaching is right for you, then click HERE.

P.P.S. Read 5 Steps to Improve your Productivity HERE