Oh, I know the feeling well.
You are happily wandering the internet and then you read something about a new thing someone is doing or you see a list of people participating in something and it hits you.
There is no other word for it but jealousy.
From my experience, jealousy is often tied into a romatcized notion I have about what that persons life must be like or how opportunities come to them. So I’ve been thinking about ways to turn that creative jealousy into action and bringing that romanticized notion back to reality.
Build a Base
One dream I have is to write a book and I hear of people all of a sudden getting contacted by an editor and asked to write a book Total jealousy over here. Yet if we really think about it, editors don’t write people out of the blue. You don’t get contacted from someone saying “I know you’ve never written a blog post, but I think you’d be a great writer, wanna write a book?” Nope. These kind of oppourtunities happen to people when they have built a base. When they have worked really really hard to create a body of work or a platform for themselves.
We can build that base by creating a regular practise of our creativity in our life be that writing, blogging, painting, going for a photowalk, writing in a journal. I think the first step of action in order to manifest jealously into creative action is to remember that at one, every sucessful artist/writer/photographer took that first step to building a base for their art.
Get Involved
I have this dream on my mondo beyond list about being involed in a certain project. It has been on that list for years. Yet do I get involved in the many ways they invite people to participate? Nope. Do I get involved in any way that would show the universe I want to be a part of something, other than thinking about it in my head or writing it on a yearly mondo beyondo list? Again, opportunities don’t fall from the sky.
Really, my inaction in getting involved or showing interest is exactly what is holding that dream back from happening. So it is a great reminder to get involved. I won’t be able to cross that off the list if I don’t take action at some point!
Get involved with projects that strikes your fancy? Have a dream that you’d like to manifest? Take a little step toward making that a reality and all those little steps do add up.
Show Your Interest
Another way jealously appears is when we feel left out. Like the other suggestions, we may feel left out without even giving ourselves the opportunity to be involved. Do you wish you were a contributor at a group blog? Ask to write a guest post.
Just ask to get involved in a way that feels right, for right now. Show your interest.
For years I was super jealous every time I’d pick up one of those fabulous Artful Blogging Magazine. Wicked jealous. Yet when I finally contacted the editor and expressed my intent to submit, I ended up in a different magazine by them sharing an article that means a whole lot to me.
In order to be in a gallery show, you have to participate in a call for entries. If you want Getty Images to represent your work, you have to submit images to them. If you want to sell your work on Etsy, you have to set up a shop and list something. If you want to write a book, you have to write a book proposal. If you are feeling triggered by jealousy, what is some way you can take action to manifest that dream yourself. Don’t wait for things to fall into your lap because in reality, that doesn’t happen to most people. Make it clear you want to be involved with something or actively participate in making it a reality.
Don’t Let Fear Hold You Hostage
Fear is a part of this process. Jealousy and fear are good friends to each other, and though they often don’t feel like friends of ours, they do hold a lot of learning for us.
Here’s the thing. Fear doesn’t disappear once you take one step. When I envision my perception of someone else’s creative path, I don’t think about the fear that might come up for them. Yet it does for all of us. ALL OF US. It is an integral part of the process of making a thought or a dream become an action.
I wouldn’t say that the fear has gotten easier in this past year of running a creative business. In the moment it still feels so intense. Yet I guess I’ve learned a bit about how it has a use in making things happen and that I am grateful to feel so much on this path, both the highs and the lows.
Don’t let fear hold you hostage. Feel the rush that happens when you do something you are scared of, despite the fear. Talk about your fear with fellow creative adventurers.
Connect
There are so many ways to connect online these days. To reach out to people on a similar path. It has made all the difference to me to have people to email when I’m in the fear-pre-launching-a-project stage. You don’t have to go it alone. Reach out to groups of folks who are on a similar path, join groups when you can be inspired.
I also found that often when I meet someone in person that I have been jealous of in the past many of those feelings disappear. We’re all just people, trying to express ourselves and find our voice. We’re all just getting by and we’re just trying to make it work.
I wonder sometimes if with launching my courses, I might be triggering someone out there. As you know, when we have these feelings about others it really is something in us asking to be heard. So don’t hesitate to email me if I can cheer you on in manifesting your creative dream yourself.
What about you?
What ways have you found to help turn jealousy into action?