Once a lay man hears the word "Competition" it means battle line has been drawn. They don't want to know much about whatever you want to do, all they know is that competition is for the survival of the fitted and you must try your best to win, if you don't win they tagged you a failure.
To me, competition isn't like that, I appreciate my parents who helped me right from childhood to have the understanding that competitions can be healthy and can be use as a means to improve yourself and not for rivalry.
My Mom who was a teacher helped me in almost everything and she's still helping me till date. She had always tell us (the children) that competition is a way to growth and development not for keeping malice or beefing others.
That's why I love emulating others once I see someone doing something interesting, I will try to imitate the person or go for something else that will also keep me busy just like the person. So I've learnt from childhood that competitions aren't always unhealthy, there are some competitions that can bring a positive impact to someone's life.
I vividly remember while I was an undergraduate, I met two beautiful ladies who later became my best friends till this moment; Glo and Triple A (their nicknames). We all meet at the department a few days after our departmental documentation at the Level Adviser office, so we vibe together and become friends.
After our first year, we all departed to our various homes, Glo went back to her state while myself and Triple A live within the the town where we were schooling. Chatting during the holiday with Glo and all of a sudden she told me she's at a salon learning how to plait hair and wig making.
I thought it was a joking, but the day she sent a video of the hair she braided for a customer at the salon she was learning that was the day I made up my mind that I'm going to learn a skill as well and be good at it.
In my mind I was like, how on earth will my friend have a skill and I have none.....she will be gisting us how she made this and that, while I will be quiet because I don't know how to do anything.....it's wrong now.
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So because of her I made up my mind to learn a skill even though I struggled within myself before I could choose a skill but I still did. I went for tailoring and I don't regret learning the skill.
I just don't want to be left behind at all. Once someone I know is improving I also want to improve as well so as not to be referred to as a stagnant river....that's me
Therefore, competitions don't have to be unhealthy, being challenged by others to improve yourself isn't a crime to me, it's a way of letting you have doses of unquenchable desires inside of you for growth and development.
However, how do you know when it becomes unhealthy and toxic?
When I notice envy and rivalry has set in. That is, when someone always wants to be ahead of me or doesn't even want to hear my name been mentioned at all then I know unhealthy competition has set in and if care isn't taking it might end up being toxic.
How do you keep the balance?
I keep the balance by telling myself I'm not competing with anyone. I am myself and you are yourself, so do your things your own way and mine in my own way. I've also learned to always mind my business, so with these I don't always have issues with people around and colleagues.
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