You're Exactly Where You Need To Be
+ some phone wallpapers for you
Psst: I have a few more spots open for 1-on-1 book coaching for Q1. Check out my book coaching details here and submit an application or shoot me a message if you want to learn more.
I didn’t plan on writing an end-of-the-year post, but it’s hard to avoid everyone else’s. Then I remembered what
said in one of her recent posts:another author’s success is not your failure.
(That’s not the only wise thing she wrote. You’ll want to read her entire post.)
It can tough not to compare yourself to others especially this time of the year. People in my various circles have accomplished amazing, wonderful things: published books (some multiple!), won awards, traveled to cool places, and more.
I’m happy for them. Truly.
But I didn’t always feel this way. I used to get intensely jealous at strangers I regarded as my peers when they achieved things I wanted. These were things I had no control over such as end-of-year lists and starred reviews.
Remember why you’re doing this work
How did I get over it? I still feel envious—it’s only human. What I do is remind myself of why I write and why I create. I focus on what I can control.
I focus on my creative journey and how I’ve grown as a writer. If I only fixate on my creative outcomes, I’m missing out on 90% of the process!
Whenever the green-eyed monster rears its head, I tell myself: I’m exactly where I need to be.
Novel writing is a marathon. It can take months or years to write over 50,000 words in a way that comes close to the story in our minds. At least for me.
So if reading other people’s end-of-year wraps make you feel less than, don’t read them. Keep scrolling. You have my permission (but you don’t need it).
You’ve made it another year.
That’s a major achievement in my world.
Free phone wallpapers for you
I created some phone wallpapers for myself to remind me that I’m exactly where I need to be. Maybe they’ll be helpful for you.
You can screenshot them above or download them here and here.
How have you handled professional jealousy? Let me know in the comments.
ICYMI: I have a few more spots open for 1-on-1 book coaching for Q1. Check out my book coaching details here and submit an application or shoot me a message if you want to learn more.
An important reminder. I've only been on Substack a year and I'm pretty sure I've shared on Notes more than once that there's room for all of us to be here. Thanks for the recommend, too!