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Encouraging children to be competitive so they can deal with the reality of life sends the message that there is not enough in life to go around. There are appropriate places for competition, namely, sports. But life is not competitive, people are. You can create your own reality and believe that if something is good and right for you, it will be yours.

Rather than teach children to be competitive, let's teach them to reach their full potential so they can find their perfect place. Let's teach them that they are not competing for a job, but rather trying to qualify for it. They need to understand that others may be more skilled or educated and therefore better suited for the job. Not a better person.

If children grow up believing that there are unlimited resources and opportunities, they will not need to feel competitive. Maybe it seems that opportunities and resources are limited, but they are not. They may change form, but they are always there, available to anyone who chooses to understand how it works.

Children should understand that their gain benefits everyone, even if in a small way. Being competitive leads to a feeling of having to hurry before it's all gone, or getting some before it's too late. Teach children that what they want for themselves, they should want for everyone, not to just compete for what they want.

If people understood that there is a limitless energy everywhere and in everything and that everything came from it and can be replenished, they would not need to be competitive. There may be no new ideas or original thoughts, but there are infinite possibilities for new form.

Competition is an archaic and useless concept. Our ways are not working and we need to stop trying to fight the natural flow and rhythm of the universe. If every child born from this moment on was taught to believe in reaching their full potential while benefiting others, the world would undoubtedly be a transformed place in a few decades and competition would be viewed as ignorant and childish.

Learn more about this author, S.E. Whitbeck.
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