Competing with your peers isn’t always a bad thing since it’s not always about winning. Sometimes you need some healthy competition to motivate you. However, it’s important to learn the difference between healthy and unhealthy competition. Here’s how you can tell the difference.

Unhealthy: Not celebrating your peers’ achievements

Being in competition with your peers doesn’t mean you can’t be happy for them and celebrate their achievements. In fact, we’re usually unable to be happy for someone’s achievements if we’re jealous or envious. So, always check yourself to see if you haven’t had allowed the green-eyed monster to take over and block you from being able to celebrate your friends’ achievements with them.

Healthy: Wanting to become better

Competing with your peers because you want to become a better version of yourself is healthy. Personal growth is important and if competing fairly with your peers can help you become better than you were yesterday, you’re on the right track. Try not to compare yourself to others all the time, or bring yourself down when you don’t do as well as you’d hoped.

Unhealthy: Purposely sabotaging others

You shouldn’t have to sabotage others to get further. Sometimes doing things by the book is better than getting the highest marks in your class. Remember that sometimes competition doesn’t mean there’s only one winner. Being a person of integrity also makes you a winner and saves you from a heavy conscience. If you’re able to help with a certain subject or concept, then you should definitely do that as opposed to withholding information to give yourself an edge. People are willing to help helpful people, so be willing to share your knowledge.

Healthy: Being inspired

When the people around you are doing well, you should be inspired rather than envious. Looking at them and thinking “If they can get an A, then so can I,” will motivate you to work harder. Healthy competition is about admitting that someone’s done better than you and being inspired to do well for yourself, too. Peers who are in healthy competition aren’t afraid to ask each other questions and share information.

Unhealthy: Seeking validation

We all enjoy the attention that comes with achieving something, but seeking validation from others can be very unhealthy. If you’re doing things because you want to be praised or noticed, then you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. People aren’t always going to notice that you’ve done well, which is why you should get in the habit of congratulating yourself and celebrating your own wins.

The most important thing to remember about competition is that you should be your main priority. It’s always better to compete if it’ll make you better as an individual and if it’s going to make you unlock your potential. Don’t forget to have a look at our Inspiration section for articles that’ll inspire you to do better. Remember, you are your biggest competition.