“When we are in competition with ourselves, and match our todays against our yesterdays, we derive encouragement from past misfortunes and blemishes. Moreover, the competition with ourselves leaves unimpaired our benevolence toward our fellow men [and women]. — Eric Hoffer

This post is an update on an older post of mine that you can view here.

When I initially wrote that piece it was posted in my Facebook notes where I had a lot of people comment disagreeing with my stance on the nature of competition. I humbly accepted their opinions, although I still maintained my feelings on the negativity that competition -competing with others- brings to your Self.

In retrospect, I believe my approach on the topic may have been a little strong. Additionally, I accept that my “anti-competition” view may have felt somewhat like a personal attack on individuals character, since we have been taught throughout our lives to be competitive. I want to take a different approach at addressing this topic, which I don’t expect to change anyone’s mind but to just better clarify the point I was trying to make in my initial post.

First, Competing with another individual is unnecessary because you are YOU and they are THEM. YOU have your own space and place in this Universe, with your own goals, aspirations, skills and talents, along with your own mission. The only person you can viably compete with, is your SELF. What you are set to accomplish in this lifetime is not and never will be dependent upon what someone else is doing. Whether they are trying to accomplish the same thing as you or not. Your success is not contingent upon what someone else is or is not accomplishing. The mark that you are meant to make here on Earth, will be made independently by YOU and your choices. Being better than, smarter than, better looking, or whatever than another person, does not guarantee you being or getting ahead in life and vice-a-verse. NO ONE can take away your power or ability to create and build your dreams and accomplish your goals. And since you cannot do that to someone else without breeding negativity in the process, then what exactly are you competing for?

I admit, it is extremely difficult to see someone else’s achievements and successes and not wish and hope for your own to come to fruition. If you adopt a competitive mentality, you will look at other individuals as those you have to top, one-up, or beat to either achieve the same level of status, or higher. In doing that, you are creating a significant amount of negative energy inside of yourself which will run over into the life experiences you encounter. You become jealous, you envy, you are judgmental and critical of yourself and what others are doing, and the most unfortunate of it all is that you are not content with the accomplishments you have made. Nor are you happy for or wish well those around you who are reaching their dreams, and/or executing their goals.

The energy you put out into the Universe through the intentions of your thoughts and actions will be exactly what you get back. The more you compete, the more you will be competed with. The more you isolate yourself from others who you fear are trying to get what you want, the more others will isolate themselves from you. Conversely, the more open you become to working with others on helping them achieve their goals in life, the more open people will become to helping you get to where you seek to go in life. The happier you are for others and their success, the more success you will meet in your own experiences.

In essence, strive to be less external and more internal with how you approach the things you want to gain out of life. Instead of looking at what others have or are doing, look at how you can better your SELF to foster your own greatness. This is an abundant Universe that wants the best for you, so long as that is what you want for yourself. Have faith that you are not alone in your endeavors, and with patience and persistence, along with love and compassion for others, you WILL reach the top.

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I came across this amazing quote reading Gary Zukav’s book “Spiritual Partnerships”, where he discusses the evolution of humans from “five-sensory” individuals to “multisensory” individuals:

“As five-sensory humans become multisensory they are attracted to new goals. Cooperation becomes more attractive than competition. Sharing becomes more attractive than hoarding. Harmony becomes more attractive than discord. Reverence becomes more attractive than exploitation. As you begin to travel toward these goals, the reflection in the mirror changes.”

Move past and evolve beyond the archeic idea that competition is “healthy” or fuels better results from individuals… expand your range of ability, tap into you souls energy, ask for clarity and focus, and be confident that you have been provided with everything you already NEED to get you where you are trying to go…