This post will talk about how Christians can deal with copycats
Copycats are everywhere. In a world of social media and the internet, it’s easier than ever to find someone who is doing what you’re doing and trying to copy your style.
As a Christian, staying true to yourself and maintaining your composure can be difficult when it seems like everyone around you is copying or following trends. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
In this post, I will discuss 12 strategies for dealing with a copycat at work or in your personal life. These same strategies will also help people who want to resist the urge or temptation of being a copy cat.
I hope that these strategies will help you stay true to yourself and your beliefs, no matter what!
Ready? Let’s go!
What does “copycat” mean?
Copycat… it’s a word that we hear all the time, but what does it actually mean?
According to Merriam-Webster, a copycat is “one who imitates or adopts the behavior or practices of another.”
In the Thesaurus, the synonyms for copycat are as follows: impersonator, ape, echo, mimic, etc.
As you can see, there is not really a positive connotation associated with this word. Full disclosure- I find that it is rather cringey, and I find myself pausing every time I type it 😬.
The truth of the matter is that most people view copycats as thieves – and for good reason. There is a very fine line between copying and stealing, and it can be easy to cross over without realizing it.
Why I’m writing this story
Ok, let me be honest, this isn’t the kind of content I like writing…but it’s necessary.❤️
Here goes…
A couple of years back, when I was actively working, I remember a colleague of mine took an extensive training that I created and, when I was on leave, presented the entire work as her own and took credit for it. She did get a promotion. Actually, she did get multiple promotions based on stealing my creative works.
Regarding blogging, I had a couple of websites scrape my blog posts over the past few months and post my hard research as their own. Funny enough those were blog posts that took me almost two weeks each to write! I remember going through so many draft revisions before posting the final work. P.S they weren’t using the re-blogging feature but a mere copy-paste of my work, and then they would slap on their name.
I was bummed but not distraught. (Hello, joy and peace of the Lord!!! 🙌🏿). I understand that God has deposited in me His creative works. It comes with the territory.
I wasn’t always nonchalant about this situation. Honestly, the first time I experienced a copycat, it paralyzed me and made me paranoid and fearful that they would do it again. I vowed never to create again. 🤣 LOL.
However, we can’t be bogged down by people who don’t understand their purpose in life or their value and identity in Christ! We can’t stop our purpose because we fear being copied.
So I’m writing this story to encourage those who feel paralyzed by the weight of copycats. I’m also writing to those who feel a heavy weight and temptation to copy.
Why do people become copycats?
There are a few reasons.
- First, people may do it because they want to fit in. They see someone popular or successful and want to be like them.
- Secondly, it isn’t always that the person is famous or successful, but they secretly admire their work! I’ve heard of big fashion houses copying designs from smaller businesses.
- Thirdly, people may do it because they are insecure. They don’t feel good about themselves, so they copy someone else to feel better.
- Finally, people may do it because they are lazy. They don’t want to work to be their person, so they just take the easy way out and copy someone else.
Dangers of being a copycat
Now that we know what a copycat is and why people become copycats let’s look at the dangers of being one:
- The first danger is that you are not being true to yourself. You are pretending to be someone you are not, which can lead to many problems.
- Second, you may miss out on opportunities to grow and develop as your own person.
- Third, you may end up in a situation where you cannot be yourself, which can be very stressful.
Inspiration vs. Theft
Inspiration is a beautiful thing.🌻 It’s what drives us to create and innovate. But where do you draw the line between inspiration and theft? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. It’s a blurry line that can be difficult to navigate, especially for novice creators.
All too often, we hear people say, “there’s nothing new under the sun.” This is often used as a justification for theft (scapegoat!!!), but it’s simply not true. Yes, everything has been done before in some way, shape, or form. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for new and innovative ideas. Just because something has been done before doesn’t make it any less valuable.
The bottom line is this: be careful. It’s easy to borrow from others unintentionally, but it’s a slippery slope that can lead to theft. Please ensure you give credit where it’s due, and don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. With a bit of caution and creativity, you can avoid copycatting altogether.
12 Strategies on How Christians Can Deal with Copycats and Copycatting
So how do we stay true to ourselves when someone is trying to copy us or how can one resist the temptation of being the copy cats (copycatting)?
Here are 12 strategies:
1. Remember whose you are
You are a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is an identity that can’t be taken away from you or given to someone else. When you feel like the Copy Cat is winning, remind yourself that you are loved by the One who created the universe, which is an identity that can never be taken away.
2. Find your confidence in Christ
It’s easy to give into comparison and start to doubt our gifts and talents when someone else seems to be doing them better than us. But the truth is, our confidence should never come from our abilities or what other people think of us. Instead, our confidence should come from Christ. When we know that our worth comes from Him, we can rest assured that we are valuable regardless of what the Copy Cat thinks or does.
3. Focus on your own journey
It’s easy to get caught up in what someone else is doing and lose sight of our own journey. But it’s important to remember that we are each on our own unique path. God has called us to a specific purpose, and He will equip us with everything we need to accomplish it. So instead of comparing ourselves to the Copy Cat, we should focus on our own journey and trust that God will lead us exactly where He wants us to go.
4. Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlight reel
It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and think that they have it all together. But the truth is, we all have struggles and challenges that we deal with on a daily basis. Just because someone seems to have it all together doesn’t mean that they don’t have their own set of problems. So instead of comparing our behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlight reel, we should focus on our own journey and trust that God is leading us exactly where He wants us to go.
5. Be content with who you are
One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to be content with who we are. God has made us exactly the way He wants us to be, and we should learn to embrace all of our imperfections. When we’re content with who we are, we’ll be less likely to compare ourselves to others and more likely to focus on our own journey.
6. Be grateful for what you have
Another way to combat this issue is to focus on gratitude. When we’re grateful for what we have, it’s easier to be content with who we are and where we’re at in life. So instead of comparing ourselves to the Copy Cat, let’s focus on all the things we’re grateful for.
7. Stop trying to please everyone
One of the quickest ways to lose ourselves is to try to please everyone around us. We can’t be everything to everyone, and that’s okay. When we stop trying to please everyone, we free up our time and energy to focus on the things that are truly important to us.
8. Don’t compare your beginning with someone else’s middle
It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and think that they have it all figured out. But the truth is, we all have to start somewhere. Just because someone else is further along in their journey doesn’t mean they’re any better than us. So instead of comparing our beginning with someone else’s middle, let’s focus on our own journey and trust that God is leading us exactly where He wants us to go.
9. Find your identity in Christ
One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to find our identity in Christ. ❤️ When we know who we are in Christ, we’ll be less likely to compare ourselves to others and more likely to focus on our own journey.
10. What are your values?
Try to figure out what your values and beliefs are. What do you stand for? What is important to you? Once you know this, staying true to yourself and your beliefs will be easier.
11. Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you
Find a community of like-minded individuals who will help you stay strong in your convictions. When you have people around you who believe in you, it’s easier to stay true to yourself.
12. Don’t be afraid to speak up and stand up for your beliefs.
It’s important to stand up for yourself, no matter what. If someone is trying to pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do, be assertive and let them know that you’re not going to budge on your beliefs.
And that’s it, folks, how Christians can deal with copycats
These are just a few of the many ways we can stay true to ourselves despite the presence of a copycat in our lives. I believe these tips will also help someone who feels tempted to copy another without giving credit.
So, the next time you find yourself feeling discouraged or down, remember that you are loved by the One who created the universe, and that is an identity that can never be taken away. Christ is your confidence; focus on your journey, and be content with who you are in Him.
Please check out these blog posts that I wrote (they fit seamlessly with this one!):
7 Dangers of Taking Shortcuts (Biblical Perspective)
11 Tips to Become More Creative as a Christian | Bible Study on Creativity
Hugs!
