Why comparing yourself to other creatives is hurting your work
Chapters
If you've ever become preoccupied by other people’s work and felt worse about your own as a result, you're not alone. The brain is wired for social comparison, but in our social media era, your creativity might be taking a hit. Here's a psychologist-led guide to managing the phenomenon and adopting healthy social media habits.
You’re on Instagram, mindlessly scrolling for ‘inspiration’, and before you know it you’ve spent an hour in the archives of another creative’s feed. You can recite the publications they've been featured in and the brands they've worked with. Their work feels outlandishly accomplished. What remains of your creativity that day drains out of you, leaving you spiralling in the blue glow of your phone screen. Sound familiar?
The comparison trap
Back in 1954, psychologist Leon Festinger developed the idea that we determine our worth and abilities by comparing ourselves to others. He called it social comparison theory. “Our brains are wired to monitor our standing within a group because, historically, social belonging was closely linked to survival,” explains psychotherapist Joe Gruenewald. “When we feel we’re falling behind or not measuring up, the brain might interpret this as a social threat.” According to some studies, as many as 10 percent of our thoughts involve some kind of comparison.
As a creative, you’re likely constantly evaluating your work against that of others. This comparison can fall into two camps: healthy and unhealthy. Comparison kept in check can in fact be a useful tool, helping you keep a pulse on the kind of work being produced and the gaps out there, as well as providing inspiration and flagging your own aspirations.
On the negative side of the spectrum, comparison might serve you up a hefty portion of angst, self-criticism and self-doubt. Perhaps you feel the aftereffects in your body: a racing mind, tightness in the chest, a knot in the stomach. “Some people begin procrastinating or avoiding creative work altogether,” notes Joe. “Over time, comparison can leave us expecting to fall short before we’ve even begun.”
Why does seeing the work of others stir up such reactions in the first place? While it's a sliding scale, most creatives' work is personal and tied up to their sense of self. “That can make low engagement, criticism or even simply seeing someone else’s success feel surprisingly personal,” says Joe. Negative creative comparison comes with side effects of a dented ego and chipped-away identity.
We might have evolved with comparison – the caveman's once handy tool for learning, resource assessment and innovation – but add social media to the mix and you have social comparison on steroids; trapped in a constant struggle with your infinite scroll of top talent, finished projects and success stories, personalised to snag your attention and emotions. “When it starts sabotaging your time, your energy, and your relationships, that's when there's a problem,” says media psychologist Joanne Broder.
The creativity block
Comparison can act as a block to the artistic process. When the creative process becomes “more about ‘them’ than about you,” says Joanne, something vital is lost – “creativity comes from within”. Joe expands: “creativity thrives on curiosity, experimentation, play and a willingness to tolerate uncertainty. It’s a space to be free and explore without knowing exactly where something will end up”. Overloaded with images of shiny results and success stories, comparison clouding our minds, this freedom – “the spontaneity of our Free Child, the part of us that plays, experiments and creates without worrying about judgement or approval," as Joe puts it – is lost.
“Creativity will creep up when you give it space, so you need to unplug,” says Joanne. “Put down your phone if you're struggling with an idea, go in nature, take a walk, unplug.” Joe points towards “daydreaming and boredom as an antidote for scrolling and consuming mass media.” We all know logging off is not easy, but being intentional with your social media use can really help. Before you mindlessly open up the app and start scrolling for the 20th time that day, ask yourself why you're using it.
Finally, remember that everyone comes from different circumstances and has different levels of experience. Online, melted into one feed, it’s easy to lose sight of that. “You have to give yourself time to hone your craft, and I think a lot of people, when they're starting out, they don't give themselves time to do that,” says Joanne. Turn back to your craft and above all, the joy to be found in the process, not just the result.
