I LOVE eating healthy and living a lifestyle that edifies and builds my body.

I also LOVE exercising.

Using the word LOVE is probably an understatement, maybe the proper word to use would be ADDICTED.

I am ADDICTED to looking and feeling good!

That shouldn’t be a problem right?!?!

Now as far as I am concerned there is absolutely nothing wrong with self development in any respect.

…………….

right?

………

Hmmmmmmm

My Story

After each workout session I leave the gym, head home and immediately as I step through the door I begin to complain to my wife that I didn’t do enough. I’d go on to further compare myself to someone that was more advanced than I am.

His chest is way bigger than mine and his abdominal muscles, are so toned, I NEED TO BE BETTER THAN HIM!!!

blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah

blah

I would go on for hours complaining. And my poor wife (bless her) would sit down and listen and console me and reassure me that one day I would be better than the other guys at the gym.

Now one day I came home from the gym and immediately as I put my bags down went into my usual routine of complaining to the wife.  But lo and behold on this particular evening she decided that she had had enough of my whining and in a state of annoyance said something I will never forget.

She said

“Stop looking at others and competing. Just strive to be the best you can be”

She went on to further say

“Nothing is wrong with using others for inspiration. But competing with others means there will always be someone better than you and you will never be happy with yourself”

now stick a pin………

ouch!

Those are some BIG and HEAVY words right there..

Earlier I stated that as far as I was concerned there is nothing wrong with any form of self development.

But from the statement my wife made obviously there are questionable aspects.

Such as unhealthy competition.

Its so easy for us to get OURSELVES all pumped up these days for a good cause but end up following the wrong path to get there.

Its also so easy to loose OURSELVES in todays world where the media and celebrities dictate what is right/acceptable or should be the norm.

We should all simply see ourselves as individuals, all EQUAL and all very special!

So as I wrap this up i’d like to challenge you to re-evaluate your life.

Are you trying to BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!

or

Are you just trying to be better than someone else.