To every single person out there who's striving to become better or the best at something...
When you see other people's progress in your field of expertise or doing the same things you like to do, and they're BETTER than you at it...
Don't ever think you can't be as good as they are. You can and you will be, if you strive to do so.
In us artists' case, it's a manner of who's better at what style and what kinds of techniques. Don't go telling yourself, "I'll never be as good as they are" or "You're so much better than me, I'll never be that good." Do you understand how much that can destroy your confidence?

Everyone learns at different rates and some people take longer to do things than other people. Not everyone possesses the same strengths or capabilities. Some people, in the case of art, don't get into it until late in their lives. Some people are better than you, even if you're the same age, simply because they've had more experience. Doesn't mean they're going to overshadow you in any way because of that. That's not their aim anyway. People don't get as good as they are to impress and then depress people. That's... just not the way hope and happiness work.

And another thing:
Art is not supposed to be for other people. It's supposed to be for YOU, and YOU ONLY.
Don't do it for other folks. It's nice for beautiful things to be seen and appreciated, but don't let other people's tastes, demands and wishes hang you up. All that does is stick you in a rut in which you wonder endlessly, "What do I do next? Will it be good enough? Will they like it, or won't they?"
Not everyone loves the things that they create. I myself can vouch for that. But you know, if lots of people genuinely tell you that what you do is great and beautiful, then it must be true. If we all know that someone, whether someone else or you yourself, thinks that... we can all progress forward and be the best that there is.

But being the "best" is a contradictory thing. We will all make mistakes in the creative process, but we will never reach perfection. After all, perfection doesn't exist. It's simply a state of mind that people get you to believe in order to live up to certain, often nonexistent and extremely obscene expectations.

CASE IN POINT:

Don't do what you love for other people. Do it for yourself, so you can have something to be proud of.

The best artists in the world are the bad ones that never, EVER gave up.

--

Wrote that because I have to keep telling myself this all the time.  

Seriously, guys, don't give up. It's heartbreaking to see people do that. It is so sad when someone goes through a whole mess of trouble for something they desperately want only to completely toss it aside when they've nearly reached their goal.

Turn that jealousy of yours into inspiration, and let it give you wings so you can soar higher even than the clouds.

_{... I love my idols so much}

~Tuesday