Monday, January 16, 2012

Competition

Many times we have seen the word 'Competition' and so we assume we knew the word, the meaning, and its usage. By definition, 'Competition' is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources.

But how far will you go with regards to competition? Why is there a competition?
Competition arises whenever at least two parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared, and this occurs when they co-exist in the same environment.

The 'Competition' I would tackle on this post is an unusual 'competition' on our daily lives. Could be a competition between families and household to strive for position, reputation, power, and social entity. Let me get to you straight to the point by example:
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Family 1; bought an LED screen TV 50-inch
Family 2; the next week, bought a 56-inch version of that TV
Family 3; cant buy, then declared, "I heard LED TVs have high maintenance, blah100x".
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The competition here revolves around an unspoken competition concealed behind the words but present consciously, visibly. Competition here is due to jealousy, and jealousy is defined in a nut-shell as "not happy at someone’s success! happy at someone’s failures!".

I have personally witnessed people who are succumbed into this "diabolical sin" (from St. Augustine). To share you the story:
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MY family bought a new refrigerator to replace our very old and respected one which served us for ten years in operation. The next week, our neighbor knowing it, they bought a new ref though they still has their own which is not yet that old. Then my friend gave me a two-year old air conditioner with the reason that there is no place for him to leave the thing since he is leaving the country. So I installed it in the house the next day. Our neighbor then the next week bought a portable air conditioner, and stating they need it all over the house that is why they prefer it portable. Then on my mom's birthday, I gifted her a gas stove-oven for her to bake her out-of-nowhere cakes. The following days, the said neighbor bought a gas stove, and saying then don't need the oven because they can buy bread anytime. It keeps on when we bought a washing machine, because the old one was damaged by the flood, the personal computer, and so on. If the neighbor only knew that we have these things just because we need them, or someone gave them to us, they might change their mind to end the one-sided competition they are going through. It might seem flattering that what you do would be a big deal for them but its a pity to watch them going through all the hardships to watch on every moves we make.
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Office politics is a form of competition or rivalry. Office-mates tend to grab down others for the sake of it. I have known several people in the office who are good at it. They talk ill things on other person just to destroy reputations and have their own gain. Well, for me, as long as they don't get more taxes from me.

Competition is healthy if its motives is good. If it grows out of jealousy and selfishness, then it is vain and bitter. Accept and be grateful of what you have. If you are jealous of what others have, and whine on the things you own, it would be an insult to Him who gave you the things you deserve to have.

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