And the winner is …

“Take someone who doesn’t keep score,
who’s not looking to be richer, or afraid of losing,
who has not the slightest interest even
in his own personality: He is free.” 
~Rumi 

A little competition is a good thing. It can keep us motivated and productive. In the business world, for instance, a competitive spirit gives us an edge. In sports, you can’t have much of a game without competing against another team or contestant. Somebody’s gotta win, right?

That said, I’ve always felt uneasy around competitive folks who act as if everything in life is a race or a contest — the folks who always worry that they’re not getting the biggest piece of cake. That’s why I’m drawn to today’s quote from the Sufi poet Rumi. The way he sees it, the person who’s not desperate to come out ahead is the one who’s truly “free.”

When you stop looking over your shoulder at what others are achieving, you can focus on pursuing your own goals at your own pace. A sense of authenticity is your trophy when you top your own best efforts — not someone else’s. Inner peace is your prize when you fully appreciate what you have and stop grasping for more. ~CL

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