"You don’t have to be in a boxing ring to be a great fighter. As long as you are true to yourself, you will succeed in your fight for that in which you believe.” ―Muhammad Ali

In a world driven by achievements and success stories, it's easy to fall into the trap of constant comparison. Social media, peer pressure, and societal expectations often lead us to measure our worth against others, fostering feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. However, there's a powerful alternative – cultivating a mindset of healthy competition rather than unhealthy comparison. This shift in attitude can pave the way for personal growth, motivation, and fulfillment.

Comparison involves evaluating ourselves based on external benchmarks, often leading to feelings of superiority or inferiority. On the contrary, a competitive attitude is about striving for personal excellence, focusing on self-improvement, and celebrating individual achievements. Personally, I am a competitive person. If I get on the treadmill next to you at the gym, you may not know it, but we are racing. It pushes me to try to go further and faster than I might have tried on my own.

My competitive attitude was truly transformed during my competitive boxing days. It is an odd dynamic. One minute, I am standing ringside, talking to my friend about her day at work and sharing recipes. The next minute, we are in the ring, gloves on, trying to knock each other out. This idea of you being my competition in the ring but my friend outside the ring really changed my whole attitude on what it means to compete.

When I tell people I view them as competition, or I am competing with them, I sometimes get an adverse reaction. People believe that because I am competing with them, I want to see them fail so I can win. But that is not the case; I want you to succeed so you can push me to go further. And I hope my success inspires and drives you to push further past your boundaries, too. Competition isn’t about pulling the others down; it’s about everyone pushing each other forward.

Think about it in a race; you see the finish line; you are leading the way, and suddenly, you hear the footsteps of another, their heavy breathing catching up. What do you do? You pick up the pace; you dig deep, push hard, and go faster than before to keep that competitive edge. And the person chasing you does the same. Now you are both running the best race of your life, thanks to the healthy competition you engaged in. We can both celebrate the successes and our faster pace and acknowledge room for improvement.

Here are 6 lessons I have learned by casting away my attitude of comparing myself to others and now viewing them as competitors.

1. Fostering Self-Awareness: Embracing a competitive mindset begins with self-awareness. Instead of fixating on others' accomplishments, take a closer look at your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Recognize your unique qualities and talents, understanding that your journey is distinct from anyone else's.

2. Setting Personal Goals: A competitive attitude involves setting personal goals that align with your aspirations and values. Establish benchmarks that reflect your ambitions rather than chasing after someone else's success. This not only creates a sense of direction but also fuels intrinsic motivation.

3. Celebrating Progress, Not Perfection: The pursuit of perfection through constant comparison can be exhausting and demotivating. A competitive mindset, however, encourages celebrating progress – no matter how small. Recognize and acknowledge your achievements, learning from setbacks and using them as stepping stones for improvement.

4. Collaboration with Competition: It's important to note that a competitive attitude doesn't mean isolating oneself from others. Healthy competition involves collaboration and support within a community. Encourage those around you, share experiences, and learn from each other's successes and challenges.

5. Embracing a Growth Mindset: A competitive mindset is closely tied to a growth mindset. View challenges as opportunities for learning and development rather than insurmountable obstacles. Embrace the idea that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.

6. Cultivating Resilience: Comparison often leads to a fear of failure and a reluctance to take risks. In a competitive mindset, failures are seen as opportunities to learn and grow. Cultivate resilience by understanding that setbacks are part of the journey and not indicative of your worth.

Choosing a competitive attitude over comparison is a transformative decision that can positively impact various aspects of life. By focusing on personal growth, setting meaningful goals, and fostering a collaborative spirit, individuals can break free from the shackles of comparison and embark on a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment. Find a friend to embark on a health competition with. A weight loss challenge, a financial challenge, or a race.

Currently, I am in a “DietBet” challenge, competing with others to lose the weight I gained over the holidays. A friend of mine started his business around the same time as I did; we set a challenge for the first to hit one million in revenue and take the other out for a fancy steak dinner. Keep in mind that competition should be fun and not taken too seriously. The only person worth comparing yourself to is the person you were yesterday – and the goal is to be better, not necessarily better than someone else.

If you need help in developing this attitude or want to foster healthy competition in your organization reach out to me at www.lifeforcewellness.com.