When competition is only seen as a yardstick of worth then we are all at risk of never being good enough. In fact it is a guarantee because there is always someone better prepared, more gifted, with greater support than ourselves. But that is good news because when we know that this is to be expected, then there is no need to put ourselves under pressure to ‘win against the opposition’ in every situation. It is a certainty that it cannot happen.
One of the primary reasons for personal disappointment in any situation is unmet expectations. Yet it is very easy to set ourselves up against expectations that no one could be expected to meet, and then beat ourselves up when we don’t. There is a saying, ‘if you know it’s going to rain then take an umbrella’. In other words be prepared for what may lie ahead. This is not pessimism but a form of robust reality that accepts the risks and has a ‘go’ anyway.
