THE VANITY OF A COMPETITIVE LIFESTYLE
I remember between my 2nd and 3rd year in the University, I wanted nothing more than a Blackberry Bold 4 phone. Oh, I wanted it!
Today nobody really uses a Blackberry, imagine that I’d gone out of my way to get it.
This just goes to show us that material possessions are fleeting and altogether vain.
I’m sure you’ve badly wanted and maybe even gotten something you really wanted at a point in your life and today you look back and wonder why you ever went to such lengths for something so mundane.
Most of those things we wanted were as a result of seeing another person own them.
A life of competition is one void of peace and full of pressure.
In this season where we’re learning about prudence, it is important to recognise that one of the initial steps to living a prudent life is to rid yourself of competition.
What competition does to you:
– Competition will make you compare your planting season to another person’s harvest.
– It blinds you to the blessings that you actually have.
– Your sense of reasoning is dulled and after a while, you can’t make decisions void of external influences.
– Competition cripples your finances and eventually your sense of worth.
How to avoid a life of competition:
– Recognize that people are in different seasons of their lives. You cannot be earning N50, 000 and desiring to live like someone who earns N150, 000. You will at this level have to delay some forms of gratification.
– Understand that everyone has their lane unique to them and it’ll help you walk in yours in peace.
– Cultivate a daily lifestyle of gratitude. Be thankful for what you do have.
– Build a habit of contentment. You don’t know that what you have is bad until you begin to look at another person’s own.
– Focus on building your own life and enjoying your growth journey.
Imagine winning a race in another person’s lane? No matter how fast you ran, you’d be disqualified for not sticking to the rules of the game.
Vanity upon vanity.
Unhealthy competition is vanity!
Article by © Barr. Mrs Ubong Ayiri Sagay, Legal Adviser, CYMI
Photo: Patti Black and Randy Lu
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Christian Youth Mentoring Initiative provides opportunities for mentorship, leadership training, growth, and development of youths. Our vision is to raise well-balanced youths, high flyers, focused, and capable of standing out in the global world. Email us: info@cymi.org.ng
