As a beginning songwriter, I've often felt inadequate. I've also felt jealousy over other songwriters being so much better than I am.
It's irrational, of course. I only started songwriting a few years ago, so naturally I'm not as good as people who started long before me are.
Well, that's what my Smart Brain tells me. It says "Cool it, relax, and don't worry, you'll get stronger at this if you keep at it. You've got this."
But right now I'm listening to Carole King's Tapestry album - which I've loved since I was ten years old.
And my Jealous Brain is kind of seething.
Not at her, of course. Who could ever be mad at Carole King for being one of the greatest songwriters in the history of music? I love Carole King!! That would be soooo WRONG!!!
No, my Jealous Brain is stomping her little foot and throwing a tantrum because I want to be better at my own songwriting. Like, NOW. She's pushing me to do something that will take time. Too much time for her. She doesn't want to give me time to develop my own style.
But she doesn't know I'm gonna put her to work. I'm giving her a job to do.
I'm going to use my jealousy of other songwriters - like my beloved Carole King - to learn the craft of songwriting, and grow in my own way. I have something unique to contribute to music, like everyone else does, and I need to keep my eye on that.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to listen to the Tapestry album - for the eighth time today - and really check out the chord progressions in It's Too Late.
Oh, poor me...
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