Lose the Competition!

Would you say you’re really competitive? 

Does the idea of winning excite you? Compel you to push harder? 

Do you have a “win at all costs’ attitude?  

Our world often seems to revolve around competition. It’s easy to get caught up in the race and forget to take a pause to assess the damage you’re creating.  

Today’s valuable assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to take a pause from competition. Whether it's in your personal or professional life, stepping back from the constant push to outdo others can offer numerous benefits for your well-being and success.

Reduced Stress and Improved Mental Health - Constantly competing can lead to heightened stress levels and negatively impact your mental health. Taking a break from competition allows you to reduce the pressure you put on yourself, lowering stress and improving your emotional well-being.

Enhanced Creativity, Innovation and Problem Solving - When you're not constantly in competition mode, you broaden your focus and can make decisions more thoughtfully and creatively.  When you step back and decide to stop competing, you create space for fresh ideas and unique approaches to problem-solving. This can lead to better choices in both your personal and professional life.

Stronger Relationships - Relentless competition can seriously strain personal and professional relationships and destroy our sense of community. Taking a pause can give you time to nurture your connections, build trust and empathy, all while strengthening essential bonds you have with others.

Personal Growth - When you're not constantly comparing yourself to others, you can focus on your own growth and self-improvement. Use this time to set personal goals and work towards them at your own, deliberate pace. Additionally, you build resilience in the process as you learn from ‘failures’ without the constant pressure to succeed immediately. 

Enhanced Focus on Well-being - Competing can sometimes lead to neglecting your physical and mental health. A break from competition allows you to prioritize self-care, exercise, and mindfulness - which are all essential for overall well-being.

Reduced Burnout - The relentless pursuit of success and outdoing others can lead to burnout. Taking a pause can help prevent burnout and allow you to return to competition with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Increased Long-Term Success - Contradictory to what you may think, stepping back from competition can lead to greater long-term success. When you take the time to strategize, learn, and grow, you set the stage for more sustainable achievements.

More joy and fulfillment - Competing can sometimes make you so focused on the end goal that you forget to enjoy the journey. Taking a pause can help you savor the present moment and appreciate the process of achieving your goals.

So now that you know why you should want to lose that competitive nature of yours,  just exactly how do you go about it? 

Here are some simple practices to help you change your mindset and pattern of jumping into competitive mode: 

1. Set Boundaries

Clearly define when and where you'll step back from competition in your life, whether it's during certain hours of the day or specific days of the week. Consider what triggers you to compete. Try to identify when/where you could benefit the most from the pause. 

2. Reflect

Use this time to reflect on your goals, values, and what truly matters to you. Consider what success means on your terms. Your definition of success will likely begin to shift when you’ve taken the time to re-evaluate your priorities, including long-term success and emotional/mental wellness. 

3. Invest in Self-Care

Prioritize self-care activities that nourish your mind and body. Do whatever technique provides the most rewarding outcomes for you- be it meditation, exercise, time with loved ones, or getting out in nature.

4. Learn and Grow

Make self-development, learning and growing your skills more important than competition. This can be a time for valuable self-discovery and evolution. 

5. Reconnect

Strengthen your relationships and expand your perspective by reaching out to friends, family, and colleagues. Be willing to share your journey and what you’re learning from your personal work, and be sure to ask about their experiences of the same. When we allow ourselves to be more vulnerable, we connect on a much deeper level  – a level not possible when winning is top of mind. 

Competition can be healthy and motivating, but it shouldn’t compromise your well-being or personal growth. Taking a pause from competition can help you recharge, refocus, and ultimately achieve greater success in the long run. 

If you’d like to create a more inspiring and personalized path to success, reach out HERE. I can help eliminate the behaviors that keep you from winning in your own life. 

Here’s to your finding the exquisite, surprising power of the pause!