How To Be Creative By Letting Go Of Comparisons

Creating Fearlessly 

Letting Go Of Comparisons

I'm sure you have heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder - and sometimes we ladies behold ourselves and the stuff we do AND all we can do is self criticize.

We do it so much and so well there are ad-companies who sell products based on on letting go of that inner critic and accepting who we are.

I actually congratulate myself  when I  find the flaws.  Give me a gold star, because, look, I'm honest about my shortcomings.  If you're not sure what they are, I will voluntarily provide you with a complete list! Just ask.  Or don't ask.  I am likely to hand you the list anyway.

It's not just that I don't like what I see, what I am, or the stuff I create, it's that I am comparing it to some other ideal. Even if I never saw a commercial, never saw how big the Smith's house was, never experienced someone else's art - gee what would I be judging myself against?

If there is no yard stick - how can I measure?




It's not just that I have trouble looking in the mirror and not comparing myself to other women.  I mean, come on!  Julianna Margulies and I are about the same age.  Shouldn't I look like her? Shouldn't all middle aged women get to wake up in the morning and look like her?  That smooth dark hair.  That flawless skin and bright smile.

My hair is dark.  Hey, we practically look like sisters.  If she had a shorter, triangle shaped sister with frizzy hair and a smile badly in need of a Cadillac dental plan....It's not just this famous woman (who has a team of people to make her look beautiful and whose job requires being well put together) I have this horrible tendency to compare myself to the women all around me, it's like a filter I wear over my brain!  Look at me I am wearing a giant coffee filter on my head!   I have to consciously take that thing off to even see a little bit clearly.

Creating Fearlessly




To create fearlessly, to explore crafts, art and even scrapbooking, I have to make myself stop comparing and just Do.  I have to quiet my inner editor, just move forward, letting every project become a learning experience.  I write a story, bake a cake, and or even invite people over into my home, I have to take off that ugly filter and just rest in who I am.

For me, it's a Faith thing.  I have help removing that filter, and I have help resting - sometimes I can't do it on my own. Okay, Usually I can't do it on my own.






In the last year I have been very aware of this critical side of me.  Not just because I wear my own ridiculous, useless filter, but  because I see other's through it. And I don't want to do that.  I don't want to be a critical-comparing person.  I really don't.  In 2015 I've worked harder on being more encouraging and empowering to everyone. I choose to encourage my husband, my children, my friends.  Even myself.





I honestly believe, the only way I am going to be able to continue to create anything fearlessly in 2015 is by Letting Go of Comparisons, and just accepting that - This is Me.  I was created to be Me, not Julianna Margulies, not anyone else.  And me is not only okay, Me is uniquely gifted, specially different, and wonderfully made.





My word for 2015 is fearless.  


I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists & paints to for the colors on this large tag. On the girl I used High Impact Paints and did a tiny bit of detailing with metallic Pitt pens. I used a little bit of glitter glue, but didn't like it and scrapped most of it off.  The flowers all started out white, as did those little strands of burlap.  The little frame is an old K & Company epoxy and metal frame I have had for ages and ages.  I painted it with gesso and  used a Tattered Angels Naturally Aged Paint System to change it completely.  I love how it turned out.  The little metal findings are from 7 Gypsies.  The background papers are from the 7 Gypsies, Gypsy Moments line.  The tissue paper is French Scrip from Canvas Corp brands that I painted with Tattered Angels Paints.  

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20 comments

  1. Absolutely gorgeous tag. I believe we need to be comfortable with ourselves. We are who we are. coming over from BOBB.

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    1. Linda, I find that I'm much more comfortable with my self in my 40's than my 20's! But I am still very aware of some things too! I so appreciate the BOBB's! Thanks for the comment.

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  2. So true and wonderfully spoken!!
    Thank you for sharing your beautiful tag too! She is gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you, Cindy! I just loved that image...she just looked FUN & Fearless!

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  3. I am so bad about comparing myself to other people! I know that it's a destructive habit and one that I'll definitely have to work on!

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    1. Renae, I know, right! I will say I learned my trait from a pair of very well intentioned grandma's - Now I just need to unlearn and not pass it on!

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  4. This is a fabulous tag! I'm loving it, and the concept that goes with...

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    1. Win Dinn, it is going to be a great year....somedays I kinda feel like that lady on the tag. Thanks a ton for the visit!

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  5. Just stunning. You should do more tags. you're a natural!

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    1. Peg, I joined a swap. I love all the tags I see in the g+ groups! So, I will get lots of chances to improve.

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  6. Dana! Straight up, sister . . . I think you are amazing!! That is one of the BEST posts I've ever read and the FUNNIEST! I am so excited for the part I get to share in your life and for the all the crafty and loving encouragement you have always shared. That's just part of you, whether you have fully come to realize it or not! A BIG part! ♡

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    1. Oh Nancy! I won't say how I think you very hilarious and keep me in stitches! I won't say how you are helping me so much with blogging and moving forward after several years of standing still. And I wont say how seriously blessed I am to know you. I just won't and you can't make me.

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  7. Lovely tag and great word for the year, Dana! Interesting blog post as well. Comparing yourself to others inevitably leads to competition and jealousy. I hate both! You're so right, we should be proud of who we are and rejoice in our uniqueness.

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    1. Zsuzsa, it blows me away, that the people who I think are so very talented like you and Tamara Laporte deal with some of the same thoughts newbie artist like me deal with - we all come from very different places in life but feel some of the same things - I never thought I would Learn so much about people when I started on my mixed-media journey!

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  8. Love your word for the year and that is a beautiful tag :) The sentiment in the blog I can so relate to! I fight everyday with this issue of trying not to compare myself to everyone in everything. I am not talented or beautiful or thin or .or..or..or. We all need a healthy dose of self love I think... for sure we women do anyway. I am glad to meet so many like me since I have been using the computer to reach out. It makes a big difference connecting and sharing with all of you. It gives me strength.

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    1. Shel - I so am loving meeting new people in the g+ communities. Thanks for visiting my blog - Stay Strong!

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  9. Fantastic word fearless, yes, it is a perfect way to create. I loved the tag, the vintage image and the frame, and Dana I loved the tag on that journal page it looked awesome!

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    1. Ruth, thanks for visiting! I wasn't sure if the journal page would be too busy for the tag, but I liked the color blends! I havent' done anything with that page yet, I'm using Dylusions and because they are water based, I get a bit stuck on what to layer next. I need to watch more how to videos!!

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  10. What a beautiful way to begin the new year Dana!!
    With a wonderful tag and a brilliant word and a great attitude to boot!1 you got it all girlfriend! hugs")

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