IS COMPETITION HEALTHY?

Competition is not only the basis of protection to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress.

I sat down this morning on our balcony, thinking of memories I had as a young, introverted child. A beautiful one I could remember was one with John Ruth, my classmate and unarguably the best student in our class back then.

As far as I could remember, I've never done anything, especially in academics just to impress or to rival others but it happened, thanks to one of our teachers who unknowingly set Ruth and me up for one of the most challenging races I've ever experienced. Even though we are from different tribes, Ruth thought me something I'd never forget.

One day, our biology teacher entered the class and said: "John Ruth and Abdulsamad Yusuf should please stand up" I stood up abruptly, closing the book I was reading. "Both of you are making it difficult for me to choose the best student in biology, not only that, your civic education and English language teachers are saying the same thing. Your exam will be the final determinant of who takes home the first position in civic education, Biology and English. So work harder and put in your best."

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Unsplash

That single event changed me entirely. I forced myself not to be caught in competition with anyone but I was wrong. Ruth became my major challenger. I started seeing her as someone who shouldn't win me. At the end of the session, I got the first position in civic education, Agriculture and biology while Ruth clinched the first in Physics, Chemistry and English.

IS COMPETITION HEALTHY?

Herbert Hoover said; "Competition is not only the basis of protection to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress."

Competition is an integral part of human nature and exists in various aspects of our lives. It can be found in academics, business, and even personal relationships.

Healthy competition catalyzes personal growth and pushes you to perform at your best, striving to improve your skills, knowledge, and abilities. The desire to outperform others encourages you to set higher goals, seek innovative solutions, and expand your limits. I remember how much time I increased my reading period just to be the winner at a competition which I doubt Ruth was aware of.

The presence of competition will encourage you to tap into your inner potential, unleashing your creativity, resilience, and problem-solving abilities. As a result, you become more driven to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals, leading to personal growth and development.

Today, if I bump into Ruth, I am not sure I will recognise her. I found myself thinking about her a lot today because I recognise now that with her aura, she taught me to push myself beyond limits and to never doubt my abilities, unknowingly.

What is the moral lesson here? There doesn’t have to be any. I just realise that every time I see people getting jealous or trying to pull someone down just because he's doing better than them, I shake my head and heave a deep sigh. While competition is often associated with negative connotations, such as jealousy and rivalry, when approached healthily, it can have profound positive effects on individual growth and overall development.

However, it is important to maintain a balance and ensure that competition remains healthy. Unhealthy competition, driven by excessive pressure, unethical practices, or a sole focus on winning at any cost, can have detrimental effects on you as an individual. It can lead to stress, burnout, and a negative impact on mental and physical well-being. Therefore, it is crucial to promote fair play, sportsmanship, and ethical behaviour to ensure that competition remains a constructive force for growth and development.

Don't forget the words of David Sarnoff: Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people."