I have a contentious relationship with comparison and competition. On a day-to-day basis, I think they do way more harm than good.
I’ll talk about the good, such as it is, first. When we work out, we use comparison in a long-term way to help us meet our goals. Think before and after photos, or the change in how much we can lift after six months of diligence, or the way our pants become much looser in the waist over time as we keep doing our daily tasks. Competition, for some people, is very motivating, but it tends not to be good for relationships. If we find it helpful, we need to ensure that we are competing with ourselves, trying to beat our personal bests, whatever those are, rather than crush the person one weight rack over. And that’s about it for the good side, in my opinion.
As I say over and over again, we can only work out with today’s body. Comparing what we do today with what we could do when we were twenty doesn’t make any sense because we are not that person any longer. Our bodies today have very specific needs and come to work out after a particular amount of sleep. We work on the energy of today’s breakfast and we have to harness our minds away from today’s unique set of stressors to be present during the workout.
It’s even worse if we compare ourselves to famous athletes, movie stars, or even that guy over there in the corner hogging all the 45 pound plates. We can only do what we can do. Let’s not waste space in our heads with whatever other people can do. Or not do. Which is where the competition comes in.
There will always be somebody faster than we are, or stronger, or more flexible. There will always be someone whose best is not as good as ours. Beating those people or losing to those people is completely not relevant. We need to do our work, period. Our goal is to be our best, not somebody else’s best, no matter how cool they are or how much easier their workout might be.
Let’s be ourselves in the gym and let other people take care of themselves.
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