To compete with oneself and others.
In my undergrad I was taught to compete only with myself. The only person I truly needed to do better than was my previous self. That is growth.Â
Recently, I took on a challenge at work. I decided to compete against past Emily. Would I be able to build a part of my experiment in 12 hours? (Note: the first time I did this task it took me about two months.) I would say too many people doubted that I would complete my challenge, but what I needed was more than just proving it to myself. I needed that motivation to show myself what I was capable of achieving. The next day I would start studying for my comprehensive exam, another achievement I want to accomplish.Â
Competing with yourself vs. competing with others. I know they way I think, work, and perform is at a different level and pace than others. So why would I try to compete with someone that is so different from me? The only even match is the competition with myself.Â
Graduate school tested me and threw competition in my face. At first I let it knock me down, grab me from the inside and seep into my thoughts. Today, only three years later, I am here knowing that I am only competing with myself and no one else. I only strive to do better today than I did yesterday. To push myself to do even better tomorrow.Â
Every day is a chance to be a better you, and no one cares as much as you do.Â