Alright, can we just talk about how much I love Meghan Trainor? Her lyrics are witty and interesting, her voice is phenomenal (reminds me a little of Stacie Orrico, whom I used to love), and her production is fresh and modern. She’s one of those people I completely love and am also incredibly jealous of because she’s so damn talented. Like me, she got started in songwriting using Garageband. Unlike me, she’s a huge celebrity and multi-billionaire. I’m fine without the fame, and hers is much deserved, but still.
Anyway, her new track Watch Me Do was released this Friday and I’ve had it on repeat, along with No which was also released recently. I’m listening to them with a mixture of self-loathing and awe.
Jealousy is a common emotion in the music industry, but it is rarely talked about amongst ourselves. We are always happy for our peers when they succeed, truly, but also…why not us? Some of us are much better at handling and coping with jealousy, while others destroy relationships simply because they can’t handle the feelings. I am sure this is not exclusive to the music industry. It happens in every field, and if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’re dealing with some jealousy issues too.
So my question is: how do we overcome jealousy toward others? How do we turn a so-called “negative” emotion into something positive? What do we do with the searing pain when we see that THEY’RE SO MUCH LIKE ME and yet WAY BETTER and yet ARE THEY REALLY THOUGH OR IS IT LUCK?? Because let’s be honest, we all have a person in mind where we’re like, “how are you even successful?”
For me, I take a minute to really feel the jealousy. Let it seep into my blood vessels and soak for a minute. You can’t ever really get rid of a feeling until it’s gone through you. So I feel it for a good long minute. Then it helps me to channel why this jealousy has hit me.
To overcome jealousy, I ask myself these three questions:
1). What does she/he/they have that I don’t?
2). Why do I feel inadequate?
3). Most importantly, what can I do about it?
Take some time with these questions. Write them out if you need to. I usually find that when these jealousy spurts occur, it’s been a while since I did anything creative just for me. If I haven’t been true to myself lately, it’s hard to see others being true to themselves and being successful. For someone like Meghan Trainor, I admire her ability to be effortlessly tough and gutsy in her lyrics. Mine are not like that; they’re full of insecurities and doubts. But you know what? I’m a different person, and my outlook is different, and that’s okay. I couldn’t pull off her lyrics because it would seem really fake. So I can enjoy her lyrics and singing voice for what it is – her voice, without comparing it to mine.
How do you overcome jealousy? Is there an artist or person you’re totally jealous of? Email me or comment here, I’m open to any tips or tricks!