This document discusses the difference between constructive and destructive competition. It argues that competition brings out the best and worst in people, but does not have to be that way. Constructive competition, like Federer and Nadal pushing each other to improve, is given as a positive example. The document advocates focusing on contribution rather than competition, having an abundance rather than scarcity mentality, and comparing yourself to your past self rather than others. Destructive competition is likened to crabs in a barrel pulling each other down or sabotaging others, while constructive competition sees others as motivators rather than threats.

1. From destructive
competition to
constructive
competition

2. Where competition helps – and where it hurts
Competition brings out
the best in things and
the worst in people.
Does it have to be like that?

3. Constructive Competition example
Djokovic: Federer and
Nadal have made me
better players

4. We are meant for more than competition
Competition is a fact of life,
but it is not the only fact of
life
From animals to humans:
from survival of the fittest to
sacrifice by the fittest

5. You are unique – like everyone else
Focus on what your contribution
is, not on what your competition is
We all can contribute to shaping a
better world if we can focus on
how we can do better, not on how
we can do better than others

6. Expanding our consciousness
Scarcity mentality: “There is only
so much pie"
vs
Abundance mentality: “There is
enough pie for me; I just need to
discover it”

7. Look inwards
What lies behind us and what
lies before us are tiny matters
compared to what lies within
us
- Oliver Wendell Holme

8. Our attitude matters more than our competition
What holds us back is
not what we are, but
what we think we
aren’t

9. Our attitude matters more than our competition
Creativity is not a
competition.
Eg flower just blossoms,
doesn’t seek to be better
than an adjacent flower

10. Focus on what you can bring out
We have talents and
capacities we don’t know
about
Eg Inheritance with buried
treasure in backyard

11. Thought-exercise
Think of a time when you
discovered that you
could do something you
had thought you couldn’t

12. Destructive Competition’s
destructive results
“Everybody is a genius. But
if you judge a fish by its
ability to climb a tree, it will
live its whole life believing
that it is stupid.”
- Attributed to Einstein

13. Destructive competition -> Disaster
Growth is natural &
desirable
Cancer also features growth,
but it is disharmonious &
destructive

14. Destructive competition
In action: We sabotage
others so that they don’t
succeed
Eg. Crabs in well keep each
other down

15. Destructive competition
In intention: We sabotage
ourselves by our negative
comparisons
Eg. Ant moving south on an
elephant moving north

16. Towards constructive competition
See others as spurs, not
threats
Compare yourself with
yourself

17. Spiritual perspective
We have been provided
what we need for our
existence, why not for our
success?
Eg. Food & Digestion

18. The power of conscious intention
When we exert our full
power with positive intent,
we attract powers beyond
ours to cooperate

19. Thought-exercise
Think of a time when
factors beyond you
facilitated you in
achieving something
important

20. Achievement & Fulfillment
We may not achieve all our
dreams,
But when we focus on
contribution, not competition,
our achievement brings
fulfillment