Compete Against Problems Not Each Other

I have a very competitive personality. I was raised to believe that if I was going to do anything to do it to the best of my abilities and that if I was not going to give a 100% to not do it at all. I attempt to instill this competitive spirit and pride in my girls as well. The culture of how we instill this into our children is important and can effect generations.

Where am I going with this you ask? Well, as I was sitting in my girls pro-cheer practice, I found myself wanting my girls to perform at the level of someone else, but I had almost forgotten that my girls were newer to this and that their journey was shorter. As we rode home from practice, I discussed what the girls did well and what they required improvement on and both girls suggested they needed to work on getting their last two skills and even asked me could they seek private lessons. While eating dinner that night, I reminded the girls that they can’t compare themselves to other on their team as they are only in competition with themselves. The girls said, “Mom, but we have to compete as a team in real competitions.” And I answered saying, “Yes, but if every cheerleader on that team works on themselves and shows up as the best version of themselves with the routine, then their chances of winning competitions were greater.”

One thing that I have learned as an adult is that we need to be teaching our children to compete against problems NOT against each other. I remind my girls daily that their are souls waiting on us to show them the light in this dark world and waiting to hear the truth, the gospel so that they can have life after physical death. I show the girls what real problems are plaguing our nation in all areas of life from cures to cancer, to political issues and corruption, tto people financially struggling, to spirtual and emotional despair. There are so many problems that require to be solved and if we don’t teach them to be solutions oriented and competing against the problems, these problems are not going to disappear or at least get better.

I urge each reader to assess the culture you have developed in your life and see if it needs to be changed or if you truly are solutions oriented. Can you imagine a world where we taught our kids to be the best them they could be? Can you imagine a world where each person used their talents to solve problems? Generations of solution providers are awaiting to be born or developed. We all play a role.