World-class athletes understand that the only real competition is within themselves. When asked about success, elite athletes frequently say they “take one shot” or “make one play” at a time. They analyze their opponent and create an overarching strategy. But tactically, they concentrate on their own game and waste little energy worrying about what the other guy is doing or not doing. Sure, a lead runner will check to see how far ahead of the pack he or she is. But they always try to run their own race. A professional golfer will occasionally glance at the leaderboard. But they always focus on playing their own game.
When your mindset is to view colleagues as the competition you shift your focus away from being the best you can be. Instead of centering your motivational drive on what comes easily and naturally to you, you constantly compete and compare yourself to others. You waste valuable time and psychic energy feeding your ego need for validation and superiority. When this behavior is reinforced by leadership, a toxic culture of remorseless politics results.
It’s common to measure yourself against others and set goals from those observations. But you can only engage in individual behavior and manage your own psyche. The more time you spend ruminating your “competition” the less time you spend nourishing your own strengths.
Comparison is an ego driven, juvenile mindset. Ego comes from a place of fear. Mature people possess what Carl Jung, the great psychoanalyst called “individuation.” This means being detached from conforming, having a clear sense of self, discovering one’s life purpose, eliminating jealousy and experiencing inner peace. Comparison is the opposite of individuation. You will never obtain this higher-level mind state until you mature past the desire to compare yourself to others. As long as you do this, you remain stuck in a cycle of resentment and unconscious fear.
Challenge yourself to avoid comparison. Overcome the unconscious pull of your ego and work to become your highest self. This is who you are when you’re using your natural strengths – when you’re at your very best. This is when positive psychodynamics laws are set in motion. Change your mindset; all thoughts swiftly follow.
As the tennis star Arthur Ashe said: “You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that’s the real joy.”