This is about the ugliness of spiritual competition. It is about recognizing it in others, and in ourselves, on the road to being a better spiritual, enlightened, on your path, higher self abiding, shamanic practicing, yoga teaching, chakra balancing, perfect healthy diet, accelerated ascension light bodied, book writing, workshop giving, you.
I think that this place we find ourselves, of being on a spiritual path, is a perfect opportunity to find balance. That place, in our breathing, in-between the inbreath, and the exhale, the sweet spot, of your focus, and consciousness. That place of just be-ing, of allowing, what is.
We, everyone of us, have, and feel competition, it’s a part of being human, a part of being alive. It can help us to be our best, push just that little bit harder. And how fun, doing your best, in a game, to see your comrades, or, your opponents, on either side of you, in a fun race, or test of skills. Knowing it is a game, but enjoying the fun of it all.
But competition can also have a very ugly side, or, I should say, the ugly side of competition, whether aimed at another, or at oneself, is caustic, is toxic, and kills the roots of the tree you are nourishing.
The competition can come from a friend, or colleague, a clique or group, or cult, or from your client. It can even come from an entity that is living inside of your client. I have done readings, or healings, with a client that has a spirit in competition with me.
I have also seen people in competition with themselves. Now that is some nasty energy. Hard to love and accept yourself, when you are never good enough, for yourself, ever. It erodes a person, like battery acid, it erodes their sense of self worth, and squeezes out any joy, or curiosity, that may be in there.
You can admire someone else’s beauty, their growth, their skills, and accomplishments, without questioning your own.
Comparing yourself to others is an act of sabotage, sometimes a violent act, especially when you are just starting, or feel hindered, or off track.
And, yet, competition is in almost all of nature, and, we are also nature.
Just look at what animal species do to get a mate. Or, all the fighting, simply to get the proposed mate’s attention!
What I am not saying, is that if you are feeling that you simply have to be the best, or, that you are not as “up to speed as you should be” that you are bad, and have to squelch it, hide it, push it down.
Pushing it down, trying to submerge it, will just give it to your shadow side, where it still lives, but comes out at odd times, or, comes out overblown, or toxic.
Neither should you dislike the friend who is trying too hard to be her best, and always has that obnoxious “Well, I had 6 client sessions today, I just can’t keep up anymore”, when you told her how happy you were for your 2 session day. Their website is spectacular, while yours is just starting out.
He/She is on her own path, and her own process. Just notice, and say hello to your compassion. Or, sometimes, just notice, and say hello to your levity. Comparison, competition, especially competition, hates humor.
The whole thing is ironic, if you think about it.
Maybe just ask her for help, or tips, on your website.
It’s good to try not taking yourself so seriously, in those instances. Or, the person you see entangled in it.
There is so much to learn about yourself, when this judgment, and jealousy, and comparison shows up. You can learn so much about your own journey, especially when you are having a slow month of clients, or readings, and someone else out there is having a stellar month.
Or, that person won’t stop posting on Facebook, all the amazing information downloads, or just won’t shut up about their amazing healing session with Archangel Metatron, or how their method, product, workshop is just the best, and you just feel ok, or possibly (now),stagnant. Even their brightness on social media makes you question your own, or judge them.
Most people are just living their lives, trying their best, and have no intention of making you feel less than.
Although, there are some, that just love to play the competition game. Perhaps it’s how they learned to survive childhood with many siblings. Perhaps there is an energy, or an entity, inside of them that loves competition, and feeds off the energy. You may notice a third chakra twang energy, or cord of energy when around these people. It helps here to be amused. That is not your friend, so don’t engage, just look past it, or through it, to your friend, or colleagues spirit, and say hello.
Don’t react to outspiriting (outdoing, better than comparison) with more outspiriting. Whether it’s aimed at you, or all “angel Card readers”, white Shamanic practitioners, etc.
Maybe, just don’t react. It may have absolutely nothing to do with you.
When they go low, you go high. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a good old bitching session (respectfully, privately). Sometimes turning the drama dial full tilt, and acting it out can be simply hilarious, and quite refreshing, healing, as it settles, and finds it’s rightful place in the world of what really matters.
Speaking your truth, no matter what. Sometimes, not speaking at all is a bigger healing. If you are speaking it again, and again, though, perhaps, you are not feeling heard, or perhaps, it’s time to shift your focus, or your group. You shouldn’t need to be in effort, to speak your truth.
You don’t need to get along with everybody, all the time. In your spiritual journey, you can absolutely “snooze” that person in your social media for a while, take a break, or learn what lights you up. The act of becoming neutral to some of these things, even finding the whole thing funny, can be a blessing, and a protection in itself.
And, remember, many people turn on the competition full blast from a need of protection, as they have a picture inside of not being good enough. They are comparing themselves to someone else, which, again, you should not take personally. And, some people can be jerks sometimes, but even jerks can teach you great things, about yourself, about what you want, and what you don’t want. About who you are, and how you want to show up.
Some people, in groups, really enjoy one upping their spiritual gifts, or knowledge, or social circles. They enjoy it. Perhaps it is ok to take a break from them, if it doesn’t feel right, or you are not in right relationship with it. Keep checking in with yourself.
Getting lit up about someone’s smugness, or greatness, can teach you so much about your own needs, wants, and desires. Maybe you are irritated about the yoga bunny, because your own exercise or body loving and self-care space has been put on hold.
Let it be a teaching moment for you, look at that, and then, remember to let it go, with a “Namaste”, for helping me be clearer in my own space. Or, a “Nah, I’mma stay” here, in my comfort zone, a bit longer. Or, Nah, I’mma stay right on my path, I like the pace I am taking. You go, girl.
Maybe you can't do 4 classes a day, or can't afford someone to create your website for you, or can't travel to teach, like they do, etc.
Or, maybe you are lit up, because you really do want that. Hmmmm....
Keep your energy high. Continue to give your gifts. Your gifts are unique. Others need you, and your knowledge, your art, your smile. Continue to give; to hand out tools, and freebies. Continue working on your craft, diligently, asking for help along the way. Keep going, keep going. The wise you knows. Just listen, and follow.
Continue to talk about your work, even if others are much farther along than you. It is where it is. You are a work in process. We all are.
Forgive. Forgive the smug ones for you do not really know what is underneath. Forgive yourself for being smug, for forgetting, that this is just a long, and beautiful process, and we all will get there, our own way. Stop taking yourself so seriously! You won’t get out of this alive.
I keep seeing my own process as one that shifts from active and pursuing, to passive, and receiving. I notice that my level of clients rises and falls like the ever-present tide. I am in a space of accelerated growth, sometimes unpleasant, but always welcome, and then times where the sun is shining, and doors all seem to open for me. Most of my work is slowly tinkering away, like the Virgo that I am, and I need to back away at times, and see what it is that I have actually accomplished. I do need the occasional compliment or accolade; it keeps me nourished on my path.
And, most importantly, I have grown through both hardships, challenges that seemed like they would never end, ones I thought would break me, but just made me stronger. I have learned patience, and also not to compare, because, everyone is fighting a battle you may not see, or know about. We are all just walking each other home again.
Some of my lessons have come though joy, though gifts, through goddess given talents. It is not always hard, or, a struggle, to get there.
How are you creating your spiritual growth?
Sometimes, it helps to just take a break. Take off your spiritual coat and hat, and just be. If you can lighten up and allow it to come to you, like a wild bird, to the food you have provided, you can get out of effort, and be pleasantly surprised, awed, and filled with joy.
If you are living out of your lower chakra, then survival, having enough, and having power, are the bottom line, and that's how you will perceive the world. Competition and scare-city become wealth, and cooperation as you move into the heart. Then, you see the world, and, the world sees you, differently.
Please give a "like", or share, if you found this somehow useful. Thanks!
copyright HelenaMazzariello/spiritinjoy 2019