Comments on: Achievement Envy - Be Inspired or Be Crushed by the Creative Success of Others. http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/ Personal development techniques for artists, writers, musicians, photographers... Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:26:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Sheree Rensel http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-50 Sheree Rensel Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:58:01 +0000 http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-50 Achievement envy, ah yes, I know it well! Luckily, it is rare these days. Now that I am older, more secure, and have my own successes; I rarely feel that 'twinge'. When I was younger, I could really lose sleep over it. Through the years I taught myself to use these feelings of envy to my advantage. Whenever my mind would wander and I felt feelings of inadequacy compared to others, I would take my emotional pulse. I would ask myself why I was feeling this way. I would analyze what it was the other person had and I wanted. Then I would figure out a way to get it for myself. The only time I really get a bad case of jealousy now is when I am at a lecture or at work and someone is introduced as 'Dr. So and so'. That sets me spinning. I started my Ph.D. and never finished it. However, I have to be honest with myself. After doing my own cost/benefit analysis, I dropped out the program because I didn't see the point of getting in such deep financial debt. When I remember this, the twinge goes away fast. I am responsible for and accept my decision. However, it sure would be nice to be called 'Dr. Sheree'! LOL Achievement envy, ah yes, I know it well! Luckily, it is rare these days. Now that I am older, more secure, and have my own successes; I rarely feel that ‘twinge’. When I was younger, I could really lose sleep over it. Through the years I taught myself to use these feelings of envy to my advantage. Whenever my mind would wander and I felt feelings of inadequacy compared to others, I would take my emotional pulse. I would ask myself why I was feeling this way. I would analyze what it was the other person had and I wanted. Then I would figure out a way to get it for myself.
The only time I really get a bad case of jealousy now is when I am at a lecture or at work and someone is introduced as ‘Dr. So and so’. That sets me spinning. I started my Ph.D. and never finished it. However, I have to be honest with myself. After doing my own cost/benefit analysis, I dropped out the program because I didn’t see the point of getting in such deep financial debt. When I remember this, the twinge goes away fast. I am responsible for and accept my decision. However, it sure would be nice to be called ‘Dr. Sheree’! LOL

]]> By: jeni starfish http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-51 jeni starfish Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:31:06 +0000 http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-51 Too true Andy and here is my own live and kicking example! Since you have been back posting more regularly I have been conscious of my own absense from my beloved blog. Lots of good reasons but within that some excuses so I feel a tad guilty. Because I love blogging and I know it is good for me in all areas of my life and business. So when your post notification arrives at times like this there is a tiny little stab that happens for me which is to say - well, Jeni, Andy's out there doing it, why not you? And it is not an especially helpful stab in itself because it can lead into the "beat self up cycle." Here is what moves me on. I choose to read your post. No matter how busy I am. Because I know that your honest and thoughtful reflections will inspire and motivate me. And they do. That is the power of creativity, that when it comes from the best part of us, it touches people in ways we never quite know. So I thank you for being one of the creative talents who gifts me with inspiration. There will be a blog posting from jenistarfish very, very soon and in part it is down to you... Too true Andy and here is my own live and kicking example! Since you have been back posting more regularly I have been conscious of my own absense from my beloved blog. Lots of good reasons but within that some excuses so I feel a tad guilty. Because I love blogging and I know it is good for me in all areas of my life and business. So when your post notification arrives at times like this there is a tiny little stab that happens for me which is to say - well, Jeni, Andy’s out there doing it, why not you? And it is not an especially helpful stab in itself because it can lead into the “beat self up cycle.” Here is what moves me on. I choose to read your post. No matter how busy I am. Because I know that your honest and thoughtful reflections will inspire and motivate me. And they do.

That is the power of creativity, that when it comes from the best part of us, it touches people in ways we never quite know.

So I thank you for being one of the creative talents who gifts me with inspiration. There will be a blog posting from jenistarfish very, very soon and in part it is down to you…

]]> By: Andrew Leigh http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-52 Andrew Leigh Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:10:56 +0000 http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-52 Sheree Yes I agree, a sense of being personally secure is vital, and having some success of your own makes a big difference too. But when you haven't yet achieved that, your description of owning your feelings and using them positively is absolutely key. Thanks for your input - and your artwork looks great by the way. Sheree

Yes I agree, a sense of being personally secure is vital, and having some success of your own makes a big difference too. But when you haven’t yet achieved that, your description of owning your feelings and using them positively is absolutely key.

Thanks for your input - and your artwork looks great by the way.

]]> By: Andrew Leigh http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-53 Andrew Leigh Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:16:37 +0000 http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-53 Thanks Jeni Very kind words - you'll send me all shy and retiring if you're not careful. :-) I really look forward to your postings too. Worth checking out for anyone who's not seen your blog. Thanks Jeni

Very kind words - you’ll send me all shy and retiring if you’re not careful. :-)
I really look forward to your postings too. Worth checking out for anyone who’s not seen your blog.

]]> By: Sheree Rensel http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-54 Sheree Rensel Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:21:28 +0000 http://www.thecreativeinstinct.com/2007/07/27/achievement-envy/#comment-54 Andrew, As you say: "when you haven't yet achieved....". That IS the key. I look back on my life and the times I have been the most envious is when I hadn't really accomplished anything yet. Once you get those feelings of success, your self esteem and confidence is galvanized and hopefully, comparing yourself to others dissipates. At least, I know this has happened to me. Thanks for your blog posts! P.S. Thanks for looking at my art! :-) Sheree Andrew,
As you say: “when you haven’t yet achieved….”. That IS the key. I look back on my life and the times I have been the most envious is when I hadn’t really accomplished anything yet. Once you get those feelings of success, your self esteem and confidence is galvanized and hopefully, comparing yourself to others dissipates. At least, I know this has happened to me. Thanks for your blog posts!
P.S. Thanks for looking at my art!
:-)
Sheree

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