Competitive comparison
When we grasp the beauty and the importance of giving, we will reap huge rewards in life. The roadblock comes when we begin to keep score. The giving of my time, compliments, encouragement, help or resources is hugely beneficial unless it is carefully calculated on the basis of how it will impact me.
Competitive comparison produces at least four results in our lives that are highly destructive to the process of achieving significance.
First of all it creates condemnation. When I begin to compare myself with other people, I could begin to feel arrogant, thinking that I am better than they are because of all I have given. On the other side of the coin, I could also begin to feel worthless.
The second thing it does is to corrupt character. When we begin condemning others or ourselves, it begins to corrupt our character. The roadblock is set up and we are no longer free or open people.
The third thing competitive comparison does is to corrode courage.
There are a lot of people who simply do not move on towards something better in those various areas of their lives because they are afraid to really give it their best effort. Their courage is corrupted because of the competitive comparison they have bought in to for so long.
Finally, competitive comparison confuses our convictions.
Our commitment to our life, our business, our family, our future, our dreams, and our hopes is confused. We lose sight of who we are and where we are going and the focus of our purpose is muddled.
I have watched life fall apart for people who simply get distracted by the compulsion to compare themselves with others. This comparison somehow gives them the justification to drop out of their vocation, out of a marriage, out of school, or out of any other part of their life where they feel threatened. And we don’t see them anymore. Why? They gave up. They are roadblocked from significance.
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