Happy Friday everyone! What a week it’s been. Now I know I don’t always do these kind of posts. But I feel like the bloggersphere has changed a lot over the past year or so. When I started blogging back in 2012, I did it for the passion. I’ve always been obsessed with beauty, photography and writing. And starting a blog was a chance to combine all three and build a little space in the internet for me to share my passions with fellow beauty enthusiasts. And I have to admit that since I started I’ve loved almost every minute of it. I’ve met some amazing people, got to work with amazing brands and get to experiences things that I wouldn’t have without my blog.
And I know how lucky I am to be able to do this. To have the passion and motivation to keep working on something that brings me so much joy. I don’t do this as a full time job. I already have one of those. And god knows I don’t do this for the money (I wish!). This blog is solely run in my spare time. And I won’t lie. It can be tough at times. Really tough. I’ve lost my blogging mojo more times than I can count. And I have a huge case of impostor syndrome. It’s hard not to when there is so much focus on numbers. A focus on whose working with who. Whose getting exclusives and paid campaigns. And who has managed to crack the Instagram algorithm and get more than 35 likes in an hour. I mean seriously Instagram, sort it out please!
But if there’s one thing I’ve learnt in my almost five years of blogging. It’s that you’ll be happiest when you’re not comparing yourself to others. Instead of wanting to knock each down on Twitter because you think someone might or might not be using Instagram bots. Or because you’re unhappy with what someone has said. Keep your eyes ahead and focus on what you’re doing. And be supportive of those out there who are killing it in the blogging word right now. I cannot tell you how amazing it is to see people earn money. And I mean GOOD money out of an industry that simply didn’t exist five years ago. An industry that I love to work in. Albeit on a part time basis.
And I know this is all easier said than done. Trust me, as someone who has been doing this for almost five years, it is hard to see someone speed ahead with only a year or two under their belt. But do you know what? You really can’t compare your chapter three with someone else’s chapter 12. Which is why I’m trying to just stick in my lane, keep my eyes ahead and focus on what I want to achieve from my blog. Of course I’d love to do this full time. And get to fly out to glamorous destinations on a weekly basis. It might happen. It might not (in fact it probably won’t but a girl can dream right?).
But in the meantime I’m going to enjoy the ride. I’m going to enjoy the journey, try to ignore the numbers and just focus on what I want to achieve from this blog. After this all started becuase I wanted somewhere where I could combine three passions. And I don’t ever want to loose sight of that focus.
I am totally with you on this, it is sad but sometimes blogging can become a bit of a competition and it shouldn’t be like that, we should be supporting each other.
Yes, yes and yes! Not comparing yourself to others is a must, you just need to get on and do your own thing to the best of your ability 🙂 x
Great post, Definitely the best thing about blogging is the creating. And those trips abroad will come! 🙂
We all have our own journeys and we are all unique. We shouldn’t compare with others because we are not all on the same level, some of us are good at one thing, others at something else. It’s like a lion, a monkey and a giraffe are all judged by how fast they can climb a tree.
So true. I am really competitive with myself. I want be the best I can be, up I try not to look too closely or compare what others are doing. After all, we’re all individuals with our own stories x
This is a great post. As a very new blogger, (and an older blogger), it has really come as a surprise to me how competitive people are. It even made me worry why I wasnt obsessing over Instagram followers like everyone else seemed to. For me blogging is purely a hobby, indulging my love of writing. Yes, Im a writer, so I want people to read what I write, but I dont obsess over twitter/instagram followers. As long as my stats on my blog keep growing slowly, and Im doing my own thing, writing what I love, Im a happy old bird!
I totally agree with you. I’ve been in the blogging sphere for far less time (nearer 2 years) but I know how important it is not to compare yourself to others x
Agree with every point you have made! There are many people I look up to still and I am into my 6th year of blogging. It’s crazy but it’s important to remember where we all started. x
Amen to this! I’m all for supporting everyone who doe this blogging malarkey so successfully! xxx
such an inspiring post. I agree. Stick in your lane and focus on you/me and that’s much better. Comparison can kill the day!
I can relate so much. I’ve run a few blogs over the years (now on number five), but I had a lot of losing my mojo and resigning myself to failure because I wasn’t winning awards like other people I’d been watching, and was putting too much pressure on myself to make them a success. I’ve come into blogging with a much different mindset this time. Do it for myself, and learn from others rather than compare myself to them!
I totally agree, some people really do get too caught up in being competitive, we should all support each other 🙂
I have to agree. I’m in my 9th year of blogging and things over the past 2 of three years have really chaged, I tend to just plod along and do my own thing. I don’t really feel like a blogger and I guess as it’s more of a hobby blogger still that I don’t really fit still after all this time
Spot on! I agree wholeheartedly. I have been blogging in different capacities for 7 years now, and for me it began as an outlet for my writing passion. I began as a storyteller, and that has evolved to so much more. In the middle of my journey things got muddled and my view and focus was skewed. For the last few years though, I have stayed in my lane and been blissfully ignorant to the comparisons. I tend to think that what I do is what I do and the opportunities I have are the ones that I have worked hard to achieve, but haven’t clawed my way to get. There is so much internet out there for us all, and with that comes the financial freedom we all aspire to get. You’re brilliant and you are definitely not an impostor! 😉 xx
I know exactly what you mean, I see so many bloggers with only a year under them with so many followers or even glamorous opportunities but I taught myself we are on different paths. I am happy where I am and happy for those who are killing it in this industry
All bloggers are different and there is so many that just do it for the freebies. Blogging is our hobby and our passion so we just try and ignore what other people are doing and support those that need our help and have the same values as us x
I have to agree 100% with you on this! When you compare, invariably you will always find yourself lacking! Instead, be yourself and please yourself, in your life, style, fashion and attitude!
We are all individual so don’t compare yourself to a stranger, they might have a very different lifestyle to yours or have problems no-one knows about.
Also Why not add a bit of praise to someone’s post or social media and allow that to act as “air” to make their candle shin even brighter!!
100%%%%% agree with you! We don’t need to compare each other, its great to be yourself
I was definitely one for comparing myself to other bloggers when I first started but 6 years later and I just focus on my own blog, avoid getting caught up in any blog drama and just enjoy all the opportunities and friendships and any small achievements I get
Completely agree with everything you’ve said hun – I do my blog only for me, I don’t compare myself to others, because if I did I know I’d never get anywhere or be motivated enough to write, as I’m not a competitive person with others (only competitive with myself!) xx