All too often we get so busy with the hustle and bustle of “life” that we lose sight of our health and fitness goals. This most often happens because our goals aren’t specific enough. How many times have you heard someone say “I want to lose a few pounds this summer,” or “I really need to stop eating out so much.” This probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard someone say this, and I’m sure it’s not the last! What is the problem with these statements? They are more of a want or a wish than a specific detailed goal.
So how do we set specific goals? How do we make a proposal to do something and actually follow through with it? One way is by tapping into the natural competitiveness that we all have. I think we’re all fairly competitive in our own way, right?
It’s human nature to be competitive, but don’t try to compete with someone else! Compete with yourself. This should be about you and your goals. So focus on what you need to do to reach them. Whether it is getting to the gym more often, hitting a new PR (personal record), or beating last years’ time in an upcoming race, set specific goals and work towards them each week.
Here are a few reasons why you should be competitive with yourself:
I’m sure you’ve heard the motto “run your own race.” It’s a fact. -There is always going to be someone that is better than you at something. When you learn to be competitive with yourself instead of with other people, you don’t have to worry about someone else being better than you or getting there first. You know the personal goals that you’ve set for yourself and you will achieve them when you are ready. Only then will you put in the time, effort and the work that is required to reach them. Use the goals that you have accomplished (there’s nothing more encouraging) as a stepping stone to set and reach new ones.
Along with adulthood comes the reality that there are some things that we just suck at. On the other hand, there are some things that we’re very good at, but just not good enough to be successful at. You know, like becoming an Olympic gold medalist? I’m not saying that you should give up on your dreams, but I am saying that taking a good hard look at yourself gives you an opportunity to assess whether or not those dreams are right for you. Once you do that, you can either make a commitment to do what it takes to make that dream a reality, or you can stop chasing something that ultimately may not be a good fit for you in the long term.
When you’re constantly competing with everyone else, you’re only competing in arenas that other people have set up for you. Sure, you might get to the point where you are winning in those arenas, but those are the only arenas you’ll ever know. Only when you use yourself as a measure for your success do you open yourself up to the infinite things you could improve on and pursue, the infinite things that might ultimately make you much happier than what everybody else is doing.
People who are truly successful pursue something because it was something they wanted to do and it made them happy, not because someone else wanted them to or because they thought they should. When you let go of people’s expectations and follow whatever it is that makes you happy, you will define your success in a more important way. You will define your success in how you feel, what’s in your heart, and how you choose to live your life.
When you compete with yourself, you are, essentially, dismissing other people’s expectations of you. Their measures for success are now insignificant. You might find yourself pursuing something that would seem crazy or like a waste of time to someone else, but it doesn’t matter anymore because you aren’t subject to what they think of you. You don’t have to answer to them! At the end of the day you only have to answer to yourself. If you don’t, you will let the most important person down; and that is YOU.
Are you working hard enough? Are you doing everything you could possibly do to reach your goals? Only you can answer these questions and holding yourself accountable is everything.
You need to ignore what everyone else is doing and achieving. Your life is about breaking your own limits and outgrowing yourself to live YOUR best life. You are not in competition with anyone else; plan to outdo your past, not other people!
You should always be looking to challenge yourself in new ways, and when you’re looking inward for that inspiration, you always will. I promise.
Stop comparing yourself to everyone else. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing, what shape they’re in, or how they look. This journey you are on is about you and your goals. Compete with yourself and see how much YOU can improve each week. Remember, it’s not always about winning the race, it’s about finishing. Good luck to you!