Competitors Are Not Enemies

I've observed some people have a mind-set that competition is a bad thing. 

Most consider competing with your-self is fine.  But I believe bad sports-man-like behavior, being a "poor-sport" or taking one's less than ideal outcome personally is the culprit for making competition the "bad apple".  

I compete with myself, but I also keep an eye out for others to cheer them on, give encouragement, and seek a better way of "doing".  When you compete your are pushing yourself to be better, but more important you compete to show what you know.  

It doesn't matter if it's work, sports, or other personal goals, the premise of competition is the same.  But instead of showing what they know, people concentrate on why they are better than everyone else.  That is not competition, that's insecure inferiority complex.  

When you come from a secure belief that you are doing all you can and giving all you have and are proud of your work, competition can push you further than you can push yourself.  

A great example is in a Harry Potter book when Hermione said to one of her fellow students that she admired them and how they helped her strive to be better.  She was cheering for her fellow and thanking her for the competition because she knows it helped her.  Yes competition can help you if you think of it in a different way.  

Fortunately, I can't think of another group that is more competitive and, conversely, supportive as a whole than writers.  Most writers support the effort of their fellows.  They applaud others triumphs because they know how difficult it is to complete projects let alone get published.  Even those who have talent have to have determination to continue writing.  Writers understand that competition makes them grow.  They also mumble under there breath and swear to themselves they need to do better.  They also compete with one another saying--"I can do better than this published piece of garbage."

Change your mind about competition and a whole new world awaits you; one with friends to cheer on, cohorts to show-off to, and like-minds to conspire with.  Your competitors have something in common with you.  In life that might mean you'd be friends.  Competition is what you make of it.  Competition is not your enemy, insecurity is.