Since childhood, we are taught to compete. Day after day, the habit of competing with others is ingrained in us. Before we realize it, competition becomes a central theme in our lives, where success is often measured by beating others. But is life truly a competition? Do we need to compete to be successful? Does the act of competing with others bring real victory? Can the outcome of a competition truly define a person? Let’s explore more about competition—its definition, significance, and impact on human beings.
According to the dictionary, competition is defined as “a situation in which someone is trying to win something or be more successful than someone else.” In other words, competition can be seen as an opportunity to win a special prize that holds significance or as the chance to surpass others and declare oneself as more successful. But does this mean we must focus on defeating others to be successful? Is that what truly brings victory? Can we evolve and achieve greatness solely by competing with others?
Well, that depends on our perspective, beliefs, and how we define competition. Two different beliefs shape our understanding of competition and answer these questions:
- The belief that life is a competition where you must defeat others in every aspect.
2. The belief that life is not a competition, and if there’s any competition, it’s with the person you were yesterday.
“The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself.” – Washington Allston
Those who hold the first belief see competition as the key to success, thinking that defeating others brings true victory, superiority, and evolution. In contrast, those with the second belief see competition as merely a chance to be better than they were yesterday. They believe that success, growth, and greatness come from becoming the best version of oneself.
People who follow the first belief focus on outdoing others. Winning against others becomes their ultimate goal, and their victory is defined by others’ defeat. Those who follow the second belief focus on self-improvement, aiming to be better than they were the day before. For them, victory is becoming who they were meant to be, without the need to defeat others.
“You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.” – Arthur Ashe
As we can see, competition can have different meanings. The truth is that society has largely embraced the first belief, teaching us that we must compete—and win—to be successful. But this isn’t about sports or games; this is about life. Society has turned life itself into a competition, where we no longer strive to become our best selves but to simply defeat others. This mindset gives us a distorted view of life.
Every aspect of our lives has become a competition. Everywhere we go, there’s competition—at work, in schools, universities, homes, neighborhoods, bars, parks—every corner of the world. We compete to have the best car, the latest smartphone, the nicest house, the trendiest clothes. We compete to have the best body, to look the best, to be considered the most beautiful. We compete to have the best job, the highest salary, or the most prestigious degree. Even life’s personal milestones—birthdays, weddings, funerals—are subject to this competitive mindset, as if we must outdo others in every way. This gives us a false sense of happiness and success, but do we ever feel truly fulfilled? Not really. And that’s why we never stop competing. We desperately seek to be better than others, believing it will make us successful.
“Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
What we fail to realize is that the only person we need to be better than is the person we were yesterday. Becoming the person we’re meant to be, doing what we love without needing others’ approval or defeating them, brings us true freedom. This is how we truly win in life. Life isn’t a competition—or at least not against others—but a competition with ourselves. Winning this “game” means defeating the parts of us that hold us back and becoming the best version of who we really are.
If you want to improve yourself, unleash your true potential, and succeed in life, you must strive to become the person you’re capable of being. If you believe in yourself and your worth, you’ll realize there’s no need to compete with others. In fact, you’ll come to see that there is no competition—because no one else can compete with the unique person you are.
Life is not a competition. And if there is any competition, it’s with ourselves. We create our own success by surpassing our own standards, not by defeating others. So let’s go out there and become the best version of ourselves!
