Take it With a Grain of Salt and Have a Plan.
I’ve ripped images out of magazines and made mixed media mood boards for most of my adult life. And then Pinterest happened. It opened a new world of endless possibilities. Finally, a central place to store ideas, images and inspirations accessible anywhere at anytime with a digital device. Though I still enjoy tacking tear sheets and 3-D elements on a good ole’ fashioned bulletin board every so often, Pinterest raised the bar for methodically compiling concepts and inspiration without taking up physical space. Yet, with all the good stuff about it (like stimulating imagery, idea sharing, community, and business growth) Pinterest can be a dangerous place as yet another channel to breed insecurity.
It’s easy for reality to get skewed when you are scrolling through and saving images of perfection. As a result of curating pins you are automatically fed related ideas and images on your home page which can create a desperate feeling of “why doesn’t my life look like that?” I get it. But if you do a little mental prep-work before you enter the Pinterest zone you may save yourself some heartache and feelings of failure. Too dramatic?
Pinterest has some real benefits. Oftentimes, our creativity needs a boost and Pinterest is a medium to crowd source imagery, explore concepts and ideas towards mapping out your goals. When used as a professional tool, Pinterest can be quite engaging and an ideal medium for promoting a business or brand. However, for the average user, it can feel like you’re being bombarded with the unrealistic expectation that highly-styled images are what your daily life should look like. Well, that’s just not the case. Get out of your head. Recognize that Pinterest is an aspirational space when you start feeling disappointed in your home, wardrobe or event planning skills. Don’t get dragged down. Life is messy. After the picture is taken, life continues in it’s disorderly and unpredictable way.
I’M guilty of what I like to call Pinterest deflation. I get amped up by gorgeous ideas and images only to have my bubble of excitement Pin-popped. All of a sudden I want something other than what I have already created OR FEAR THAT I WILL NEVER BE ON PAR WITH THOSE WHO SEEM TO BE CRUSHING IT.
We need to remind ourselves that there’s room for everyone at the table. Also, having great ideas and executing them are two totally different things. It’s helpful to remember that comparison and perception are powerful things which are both within our control. Let’s keep in real simple with a few tidbits of wisdom that apply to way more that Pinterest.
- Stop comparing yourself to others. This is not a productive endeavor or good use of your time or energy.
- Changing your perspective to view things from a different angle will alter your outlook. Perception is based on own biases.
- Executing your creative ideas often requires help. Few people do it all alone!
As a society, we have long looked to Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, becoming awed by what we don’t have and thinking we should be able to have everything we (think) we want. Is this really productive? The answer is no, it’s not. To make matters worse, seemingly average, everyday people are creating content that resembles that of high-end design. “How do they do it!? ” but remember, you don’t know what actually goes on behind the scenes. How much help they are getting, who is financing the project or if there is an entire team involved. Everyone’s situation, budget and circumstances are unique and the comparison game is never, I repeat never, fun or constructive. Say aloud to yourself, “Another person’s captured moment is not my reality.”
The objective is to get stimulated and then create small steps towards achieving your personal goals by figuring out how to make inspiration work for YOU. Go in and get out before you get bogged down. Stop Pinning and start doing. Once you have a visual goal clarified, make a list of what you’ll need to make it happen in a way that works for your lifestyle and budget. Experiment! I can’t stress this enough. Take some chances and be willing to make mistakes. You may have a beautiful oops moment.
I have tried to create Pinterest-worthy rooms for my two daughters over the years calling on imagery from my most popular board, ‘children’s space’. Strangely, they are not interested in living in a perfectly curated and styled space. They want to be comfortable and free to explore. To draw and read and play and make messes and everything else kids want to do because they are kids for goodness sake! I have learned to let go and to accept that kid’s room can be cute, functional, well-decorated and designed and also be a little chaotic because that’s real life.
I thrive on clean, organize, functional and creative spaces. I mean, who doesn’t?! I think that’s the appeal of Pinterest specifically in regards to home design and interior decorating. It’s important to remember that a designer or decorator can’t perform magic. Well, maybe some have a few tricks but still. Sharing your Pinterest board with a decorator will help communicate your desires but our job is to translate those images into something tangible that works for you. We can’t bring a picture to life in a way that would feel authentic. Truthfully, the space would feel manufactured as opposed to personalized. You want your space to represent and support your unique lifestyle.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good deep-dive into Pinterest when I want to be inspired. Many times, I am perusing the pins I have already saved to monitor how my style, taste and goals are evolving.
Pinterest can be a diverse source of inspiration best approached if you have objectives or can shut out the voice of comparison and set expectations for yourself. You can do it. Now let’s go save some pins and make some plans!
FIONA FINDS 