Racing through life!

This might be a counter-cultural opinion, but in my humble opinion, I have been realizing more and more that, competing endlessly is a breeding ground for dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Racing seldom is alright. But racing 24/7 makes the fuel to be empty.

Right from a young age, we have been taught, to be better than him/her who might be your peer, brother, sister and now even spouse in some places! "And if you don't," they say, "you are up to no good". Or at least that is what which is generally believed.

Don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting competition is unnecessary. It is good perhaps if it is healthy. Healthy competition for me is appreciating someone without looking down on ourselves or others. It is healthy if it is for betterment and appreciation. Without depreciating or disabling others who might have not reached the first, second or third place. Comparison and competition can get us started but in my humble opinion doesn't do much good in the long run.

It is almost a cultural obsession to compare. However, it's not only crazy to compare with others, it’s impossible. Every individual is unique and has his/her purpose in life to work upon. One’s individual life experience is too vast to compare them on a single common parameter. The causes too complex to finally compare few effects. We have invented devious ways to compare, to measure with others some being money, likes, accolades, and followers. Quantity is great, but quality of life should not be compromised and that includes good memorable times.

For how long has the competition culture induced feelings of inadequacy in people. It's like saying creation made a mistake with humans and we have to work it up for ourselves to prove our worth. We will, therefore, try to increase our worth by being better than the others, owning things more than the others which are virtually endless. It has been deeply rooted in the collective human psyche.

It is realistic to compare performance but never the individual. Sometimes the performance gets closely tied to the individual worth which is the reason people think they are failures. But in reality, their performance needs improvement, and they can learn to do better.

People who win in life and succeed do so because of many reasons. One of them being: Working in the domains of their natural strengths, experience and passion. A person who is not successful may simply not be in the domain of work coherent with his/her particular inherent strength, experience and passion, that's all. That doesn't make anyone less or inadequate but rather in a process of discovery, learning and experience.

What do you think?

#work #life #passion