We're obsessed with being better than others because we're immersed in the quality of selfishness, seeking to benefit ourselves with no regard for others or Nature. The quality of selfishness wants to be greater than, better than and important than others.
Some people justify this behaviour by saying aggressive competitive brings out the best in us. It doesn't. It brings out our most egoistic side, which is negative and destructive.
It's better to cooperate and collaborate than to engage in aggressive competition.
Here are my notes:
- Money & Wealth:
- Businesses - Today, businesses are driven by aggressive competition. Most companies seek to make as much money as possible - to be the richest, to be the biggest, to have the highest market share, to have the highest profits etc. They pursue their I'm Better Than Others title at the expense of others, exploiting other businesses, employees and customers to achieve their selfish goals.
- Individuals - Today, individuals are driven to make as much money as possible - to have the biggest house, the nicest car, the most expensive possessions etc. They pursue their I'm Better Than Others title in order to feel greater than others. However, these pleasures are fleeting and they're left feeling even more empty than before.
- Sports:
- Today, sports is driven by aggressive competition. Most sporting organization (and individual athletes) want to be the champion. They're also motivated by money because winners get prizes and endorsements. The problem in sports is that there is only one winner and a whole bunch of losers. Athletes pursue their I'm Better Than Others title at the expense of others, hoping others will lose, so they can win.
- Countries:
- Today, countries are driven by aggressive competition. Some countries seek to gain the most power, control and wealth. Countries pursue their I'm Better Than Others title at the expense of others countries.
In the story of Snow White [1], a wicked queen constantly asks her mirror, "Who's the fairest one of all?" and expects her mirror to reply, "You're the fairest one of all". This is where we are today - we're the wicked queen, obsessed with being better than others.
The wicked queen represents the quality of selfishness (seeking to benefit ourselves) and Snow White represents the quality of bestowal (seeking to benefit others and Nature). We have to change from selfishness to bestowal, from the wicked queen to Snow White.
Instead of being motivated by aggressive competition, we should be motivated by love. E.g., a mother, motivated by love, works tirelessly to provide for her children.
We're all one family and we should treat each other as one family. Competing aggressively with other family members and exploiting them for our own personal profit and gain seems inappropriate and out of place. It's more appropriate to see ourselves as having different roles to play in our worldwide global family.
The wicked queen represents the quality of selfishness (seeking to benefit ourselves) and Snow White represents the quality of bestowal (seeking to benefit others and Nature). We have to change from selfishness to bestowal, from the wicked queen to Snow White.
Instead of being motivated by aggressive competition, we should be motivated by love. E.g., a mother, motivated by love, works tirelessly to provide for her children.
We're all one family and we should treat each other as one family. Competing aggressively with other family members and exploiting them for our own personal profit and gain seems inappropriate and out of place. It's more appropriate to see ourselves as having different roles to play in our worldwide global family.
Instead of seeking to benefit ourselves and being obsessed with being better than others, we should seek to do good to others, to benefit them in a positive and constructive way.
Cooperation and collaboration is better than aggressive competition. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others/Nature instead of ourselves.
Cooperation and collaboration is better than aggressive competition. In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others/Nature instead of ourselves.
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References:
- Snow White: www.en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
Copyright © 2015, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.
