Comparison and Creativity

There is this idea out there that there is always going to be someone who is better than you. A better songwriter, better musician, better person. I think that this idea is rooted in truth, but very unhelpful. Comparison hurts! This way of thinking can only discourage you from wanting to create anything. And if you do create under this umbrella of comparison, it will cause you to second guess everything that you make. If you are writing a song and only think about trying to be as good as Taylor Swift, you will never feel like the song is good enough, because you aren't Taylor Swift, and therefore you can't write like her. That's a good thing! We already have a Taylor. We need you! The only way to be truly creative is by letting go of this comparison mindset. We also need to let go of the idea that there is "good" art and "bad" art. In an article from Psychology Today, Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed.D. says that this black and white way of thinking causes "judgement [to become] more important than creativity." Art is so much more than "good" or "bad". Art is your story in tangible form. Letting yourself create your music without any of these hinderances will allow it to fully reflect you and your story. Of course you can have your influences. It's only natural that other people's music will influence the way that we make ours. The difference is the mindset. You must first think about yourself and your story and then think about the artists who have told their stories in similar ways. Your music is about how you, and you alone, have experienced the world. It's not about anyone else. Don't let it be.

"Shine a light on what makes you unique. People want to get to know the real you !" ~ Jill Riley CEO/Owner