Healthy Competition or Detrimental Comparison?

Some healthy competition can be good for a person.  Seeing the hard work of your competitors naturally motivates you. Its human nature to work harder under pressure and run faster when chased.  To avoid spiraling from healthy competition into detrimental comparison, you must keep your eye on the prize rather than on your competition.

You may view other organizations in your field or sports opponents as your competitors.  Seeing them work overtime or train harder will likely light a flame under you.  You’ll wonder if you are working hard enough to be better than them.  Pushing yourself is great, but this mindset will only allow you to be better than them.  It keeps you from being the best.

Your potential can be reached once you realize that your only competition is the person you were yesterday.  Though the finish line may be similar, everyone is running a different race.  The energy spent looking at the competition is energy you could’ve used to excel in your race.

There is no reason to feel threatened by your competition; no one can do what you do the way you do it.  Keep your eyes forward, and work to be better than the person you were yesterday.  Your competition will be sweating trying to keep up.