A Philosophy for Competition
My current beliefs in performance coaching.
The purpose of competition is not to win against others, but to discover something about ourselves. The competition is a mirror to our ego, the pressure a catalyst. But It is not until you truly desire to succeed that the reflection becomes clear and we can actually see ourselves. Without giving in to the desire, we cannot discover vulnerability, and without vulnerability, our reflection is obscured.
Effort does not equal outcome. Too often do we see ourselves as deserving due to the investment we have made, but it is the uncertainty of the outcome that entices us in the first place. If effort did provide certain outcome, there would be no performance as there would be no mystery, no entertainment, no show. The unwritten nature of the future is what makes anything possible, it’s what feeds our imagination and what drives our efforts, without uncertainty life would no longer be alive.
Success is more of a prison than failure. So often we see success as a pathway to the new, however, the reward more often than not, is the overwhelming pressure to continue to succeed. If you set out to win at all costs, in time your victory will be your demise.
Do not shy away from sadness or grief. When moments are big and outcomes are painful, these are the moments that teach us the most. We get to test our resilience and our compassion, our empathy and our desire. Many times it is the moments of what feels like epic failure that uncover the deepest secrets.
The benefit of setting goals is not in their attainment, but in the framing of our failure. Creating and attaining a goal results in the formation of a new goal, the old goal becomes superfluous. However, failing to achieve our goal results in the opportunity for development, it is the goal that sets the boundary for our reflection.