Are you in competition? With you? Or IG?

April 2, 2023

If you measure your growth against the progress of others you’ll forever be chasing failure. Your only competition is you. Can you do your best today and strive to do better tomorrow? If so, you’ve won

We live in a society that creates competition with one another. The main goal of our economic system is that of driving consumerism, often at the expense of humanity. We aren’t enough without the nicest car, the biggest house, the fanciest clothes or any other material that leaves us empty when the initial dump of dopamine eventually wears off.

We do the same with validation. We search for it by working for status or wealth or aesthetics. None of these things are “bad” but often the reasons behind our pursuits can be damaging to our relationships and mental well being.

Self development is a beautiful and messy process. It requires examination and measuring progress. However, we can’t use the same parameters that have been instilled in us by a “winner-take-all” mentality that’s driven purely by getting you to buy more stuff. Rather, measure progress in a manner that rewards effort and process rather than outcome.*

Stop worrying about what someone else achieved in their diet or workout program or business development course and instead focus on the person that truly matters in your efforts to change. You.

*Contrary to popular IG opinion, trying hard doesn’t guarantee you’ll be better than the person next to you but it will guarantee you’ll be better than the you today.

Author

Jeb Johnston

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