Most love good competition, whether it’s in sports, video games, or just trying to get the correct answer first in class. It pushes one to work harder, improve one’s skills, and find the best part of oneself, even if there is no prize. The joy of accomplishment, and let’s be honest, the bragging rights, are incredibly motivating. Without it, many would never have overcome the mental blocks or discovered what they’re actually capable of achieving.

      For some people, competition is their life. Athletes train for years to hit a new personal best, students work harder to succeed academically, and teams learn the value of trust and communication. Healthy, positive competition teaches life lessons such as discipline, responsibility, and graciousness in both winning and losing. While winning feels great, losing, though painful, can be just as valuable, fueling the desire to improve and teaching one good sportsmanship.

     But like most things, there’s an extreme; competition can definitely go too far. What happens when the drive to win is more important than anything else, even more than being a decent person? On a court or field, that can turn into disrespect or aggression towards opponents, refs, or even their own teammates. In the classroom, it can make students focus solely on beating others that they stop teaming and collaborating with peers, or stop supporting and celebrating their friends/classmates successes.

      But competing goes beyond just school and sports as well. Intense competitiveness can negatively affect relationships when one chooses to win over those relationships or when one is constantly comparing oneself to others. 

      People are also recently turning things into contests that shouldn’t be, like comparing who has it harder in life, who has worse mental health, or just who has more on their plate. I believe it’s because this is a way to get attention for those who seek validation, but that’s a very unhealthy mindset to have. There isn’t a certificate or medal for the most burdened. These kinds of attitudes cause people facing difficult challenges to feel that their problems are too small to reach out for help. This includes those who argue with everything one has to say; one’s feelings are not something one needs to argue with and aren’t up for debate, as it creates an unproductive competition over who’s correct when that’s not how opinions work.

     These pressures to always be the best, do the most, and never lose can lead to burnout, anxiety, and an extreme fear of failure, causing one to stop enjoying the game, the subject, activity, or the person entirely. The solution is finding a balance. Competition should be about challenging and pushing oneself, not tearing and pulling others down. Respecting opponents, supporting teammates, and accepting a loss gracefully are what make it worth it and leave an impression on those watching. Winning is fun, but having kindness and integrity are so much more important. 

     While being overly competitive isn’t always in one’s best interest, competition is part of life and is a double-edged sword. It can be a motivator, build confidence, and encourage growth, but if one takes it too seriously, it causes unnecessary stress and broken relationships.  It’s important to remember the real spirit of the game, do one’s best, follow the Golden Rule, and actually enjoy the experiences instead of focusing so much on the results.