B is for But!!!!

This might be seen as a continuation of yesterday’s post about the feasibility of cosplays. Maybe at the end of reading it you scoffed and loudly proclaimed “But!” yourself. However, I want this to discuss a different kind of ‘but’.

See, my post yesterday was a caution to over-achievers who bite off too much and choke up. However, there is the reverse personality to consider. What about the people who self-destruct without ever even trying? The people who say “But I can’t do it,” “But it will never turn out right so I shouldn’t do it”, “But I’ll never look as good as such and such cosplayer” and they give up. Sometimes we put obstacles in our own path out of fear and this is so easy to do in the cosplay world because we put our work out there in the public eye where we are compared to others.

It’s so hard to keep focused on the truth, but here it is in black and white: Don’t compare yourself to other people. Comparison is a huge component in the cosplay world. Showing off at conventions or online is how you display the results of your hard work. But there’s a difference between “here’s what I’ve made!” and deriving your whole self-worth from the opinions of others. Don’t let them hold you back either.

Who cares if a million other people have done Harley Quinn? If you love the character, do it! Who cares if your skills aren’t good enough to do an armor cosplay to the level of cosplayers like Kamui Cosplay or Jessica Nigiri? You aren’t them. Do what you can now, practice and eventually you will reach their level. Who care if being sexy is what “sells”? Make that furry or space armor cosplay and rock it.

Do what you can do now and leave others and the future out of it. No one is perfect, not even cosplay idols. And you won’t know how good you are till you try! I’m still learning this and I have to constantly overcome fear of not succeeding since I’m such a perfectionist but if I let fear hold me back, then I won’t ever create anything good or learn the skills to become better. What fears or anxiety are you trying to overcome? How do you cope with them?

#cosplaycolumn #advice #atozchallenge