The way western society is built, it is hard to conceive a world without competition in it. Some great thinkers claim that it’s human nature to be driven by our egos, dreams, and ambitions, but does that make it a “good” thing in all cases? I believe the answer is not that simple and it should be analyzed at a personal level as well as a social one.
Not everyone is suited for competitive spaces and one’s personal stance on the topic might vary depending on how comfortable one finds themselves within them. There are those who thrive with competition, adopting a win-or-loose stand in most areas of their life, celebrating rewards and, ideally, accepting defeat. And then there’s people who prefer a more personal approach to their tasks and challenges that doesn’t involve comparing themselves to others but instead focuses on their own journey.
Claiming I find a little bit of myself in both postures may come across as odd, especially due to their opposite nature. However, one might want to consider the following: the social sphere where the competition takes place matters. For instance, being competitive (up to a certain point) at work or in school might help someone get an edge and even aid them in staying active towards their goals. However, I’d personally be more hesitant about bringing competition to day to day interactions where there is no concrete gain from it, given that it might result in pushing away people that I care about, and relationships that are more important to me than any possible reward.
To sum up, I don’t think competition can be categorized as inherently good or bad. Its nature and appropriateness will depend on each individual’s goals and priorities, as well as the context in which it might take place.