To compete or not

Is competition a good thing? Some would say competing is bad. I am yet to come to a solid conclusion, however, I guess it comes down to your definition of what competition means for you. Over the weekend I competed in the QLD Open beach volleyball tournament and although I didn’t finish as high up the ladder as I would have liked, I did perform some feats that I never knew I had within me. For me competition brings out the best in me, it provides me with a higher standard of operating, it pushes me to jump that little bit higher, run that little bit faster or extend myself just that little bit more. When I am competing in sport I feel alive, all my sensors are activated and in that moment I feel free, Sometimes I will get a huge block or a massive spike and after I think ‘did I actually do that?’. It mostly happens unconsciously, but would certainly not have happened if I didn’t show up to play in the first place. It reminds me that we never know what we have inside of us until we try, until we push past our comfort zone and get in the game. For me competition is not about beating the other guy to boost my ego and make me feel good about myself [although perhaps at one point it use to be], I now know it is about giving thanks to the other guy for showing up and challenging me to be more then I ever thought possible. It is also about having high standards and evoking the warrior within, not making excuses and never getting in to the game because you’re afraid of loosing or making mistakes. Hell, I even got my ass kicked in one game by a 50 year old man, [that was tough for the ego], but inspiring, imagine the attitudes and beliefs that guy has, he certainly hasn’t let age dictate to him whether he should step on the court or not. So regardless of what your thoughts are about competition, ask yourself, are you truly in the game? Are you playing in the game of life to your full potential? Are you giving it all that you have? Or have you turned into a lazy sloth because of certain attitudes and beliefs you are holding on too? What story are you telling yourself that is preventing you from taking action and playing all out? Is the warrior within calling you? Perhaps it’s time to step up, get in the game and compete with yourself! You never know you may just become a better version of yourself then you were yesterday! But you will never know unless you start :]