WHOM ARE YOU COMPETING WITH

There was this story about a young man from Nigeria that won 10 million naira in one of the promos organized by one of the telecom companies in Nigeria. This young man had never ever come in contact with a million naira before this time. He was so excited and couldn’t believe that he had turned into a millionaire with just one opportunity. But what surprised everyone was the fact that instead of that young man to invest that money in any profitable venture, he quickly went to purchase a Prado jeep worth 9.5 million naira. Citing some of his friends driving such a car as the reason for his decision; Saying that he had to keep up with them.

He forgot all the plans that he might have had before then in a jiffy. This is what actually happens, when we live life like we’re in a competition. We let those around us define the pace and path in which our life is going to take which in turn lead us into making wrong decisions that would not be beneficial and profitable to us in the long run.

I know you might have started thinking about some wrong decisions you or someone around you might have taken in the past in the name of keeping up. We got so caught up in seeing how far others or those people we seem to have started together with had gone ahead of us that we started living our lives so as to catch up with them, forgetting the fact that we’ve not yet gotten to that position where we could afford or get those things that they have gotten. Hence we’re likely to use the little opportunities that would come our way on keeping up and forget what we should have done with such opportunities so as to keep us going strong in life.

Life is all about taking opportunities and using them wisely. Imagine if that person that you’re trying to catch up or keep up with had used his or her opportunity wrongly, what would have become of him or her. You may never know how long it might take before the next opportunity might come your way, you better start living your life for you, and think what you would do with your life instead of trying to catch up with people.

Life is never a competition. Yes, some of your friends might have gone far ahead of you but that should not be something that should make you look or act restless. You are not living your life to please or prove anything to anyone; you’re living your life for you. The only thing I think the successes of your friends or peers should do in you should be to invoke in you the desire to work harder.  If you know that you’ve been working hard and putting your best at what you do, then wait, your time will surly come.

There was this story about a young lady that got married to a man that was always abusing her all through the period of their courtship because she feels that life had left her behind based on the fact that all her friends are married. She later ended up suffering from excessive depression as a result of the constant battery from her husband.

What about the numerous numbers of young men that are going into dubious means of making money each day because they’re feeling that life had left them behind? This is as a result of the competition mindset.
Understand that everyone in life must not move at the same pace: some would move faster, and some slower but it’s the final destination that matters. Don’t drain all your strength and lose your final destination because you think you have to keep up pace with someone that has the energy to run faster.

You shouldn’t live life chasing others or trying to keep up with them because you might only end up wasting the little opportunities you might have had on trying to keep up. Live life chasing your dreams as that is what determines your standing in life. Strive not to be stagnant, even if it’s just a baby’s step, take it toward your dream each day. No matter how long it may take, you will certainly get there. It’s only those who live to achieve their dreams that get the applause of life. Strive to achieve yours and watch the world celebrate you.