By Shazad
“You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that.”
Michael Jordan
Life is a competition they say. You have to WIN and beat everyone as the story goes. Second place is for losers according to some. It’s an “Us vs. Them” battle every day and we can’t lose. So much of this combative drama plays out in the world and we all feel its influence at some point in time but does it even make sense and is it at all true?
Like most people in their youth, I used to believe those lines about competition and winning by beating my peers and everyone else in society. I was totally buying into this notion of my life being some kind of ‘war’ for resources, attention, and such. As I grew older and became a man, these themes had less appeal to me. Now that I’m middle-aged I realize the true battles were not with others in the world - near or far, but with my own ideas, thoughts, and the previous versions of myself. I am not trying to outshine someone or conquer them. I’m actually just trying to be a better, more Awesome human being as I grow and learn more. My former self had youth, speed, and cleverness for assets. This evolving person that I accept myself to be is stronger, wiser, and more patient about things. I am not trying to ‘defeat’ people or things as much as I’m trying to grow throw life’s experiences and trials.
Only those people who don’t reflect, adjust, and improve their lives over time are the ‘losers’. You are clearly not one of those people because you are reading this blog and probably doing other things to make your life better.
Growing old is about improving and becoming better through the refinement of ideas. As I look back on my youth, I feel a little regret that I didn’t understand these ideas sooner. I would have changed my focus immediately to face my own flaws and ignorance so that I could conquer myself and the need to beat others to prove some point. It was never about them or the rest of the world. The competitive drama was really in my head and all I needed was within me. It’s the same for you. You are already a winner and have the blessings to level up your game, shine brighter, and live a better life once you accept the rules of winning on your own terms. Live Awesome!
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