instagram is my biggest distraction

I have a tendency to compare myself to other artists on Instagram. As soon as I feel that I've finally figured out my brand, I stumble on a feed doing it far more brilliantly than me. And it all crumbles under my feet. What am I doing wrong? Why do all of my photos suddenly look blurry or discolored? Am I pretending to be something that I'm just not?

It's deflating and for some one as dramatic as myself, I lean towards an extreme and tempt myself to quit altogether.

When I have a proper perspective, however, the air clears and I settle into a healthier attitude.

I am not my work; my work is not me. It's simply an overflow of the joy that I feel inside, of the beauty that I hope to emanate. 

It's helpful to tell myself a few things:

Instagram is simply a tool.
Sure, I'd love to have a prettier feed with more followers, but my eggs are not in that basket. My products, not my feed on a free social media platform, should bring utter joy to my customers. If I have a gorgeous feed, but fall short to deliver jaw-dropping gorgeous items, then it's time to pack this all up and go home. Instagram can be a way to reach people, but it's not the only way and it's certainly not a requirement for a successful business.

Make mistakes.
Photos on Instagram are not permanent. I've learned that if I post something and it makes me feel sad, it's time to hit that trash button. Being ok with trying something to only crash and burn is a new idea, but I'm getting used to it. Apparently, making mistakes is a good thing.

Eyes on your own paper.
This is some of the best advice I've ever heard running a business (compliments of Rebecca Smith). I need to focus on my business; not hers. She's doing well? Awesome. You go, girl. End of thought process. No "Gosh, I wish I had thought of that" or "Why can't I figure all of this out?" Those thoughts only serve to destroy. I'm called to simply do what is in front of me. That will feel far better than constantly chasing after some one else's success.

As soon as I get my head out of a kiddie pool of self-pity and self-centeredness, ideas flow more freely. I feel more confident on my brand and work when I don't hinge it on a flimsy foundation. And, really, I just have a whole lot more fun.