TOWARDS HEALTHY COMPETITION

Growing up in today’s world is a tedious job in itself. A competitive life starts as the child gets enrolled in the school and with that, the natural desire to score over the peers’ plays a key role.

We, the parents and the guardians, instill a spirit in the young minds to supersede all others. And that sets the snowball of competitions rolling in the child’s life. He aims to reach the pinnacle irrespective of the arena, aptitude and personal calibre.

This blind persuasion ingrained at a very early age robs the child of the pleasure of naturally exploring, growing and gradually progressing in life. As these children reach higher grades, the intensity of competitions take their toll with undesirable repercussions.  Academics and co- curricular activities are always on the driver’s seat in a student’s life. We tend to focus more on them rather than develop the personality as a whole.

Understanding this syndrome, it is essential on our part to regulate the competitive atmosphere around us so that a positive development results from the exercise. Such positive developments include simplicity and honest contribution to one’s duties. These form the intrinsic benefits of healthy competition.

Progress, both professional and personal, form an inextricable part of one’s life. However, rather than forcing ourselves to work on the benchmarks set by the others, our focus should be to on our own strengths and develop our aptitude on the same basis.

Healthy competition is a welcome sign and is needed for the society to progress. But, if the same competition leads to stress and degradation of basic values, it limits the growth opportunities. It is also to be understood that at the end of the day, intrinsic satisfaction counts much more than the extrinsic benefits amassed.

Let us put this question to ourselves and try to answer. I am sure that we shall get a positive answer which shall pave a way for better life and make us healthy citizens.