05-05-2009, 09:31 AM
Snow and Trotts have it right: Stress is derived from different points from when we, our parrents, and our grandparrents were growing up... you have to see this.
... Our grandparrents said we had it easy, our parrents said we have it easy, and now we say our children have it easy... yet growing up was not easy in any way, shape, or form... It was just, different, with its own set of unique stress inducers brought on by competitive parrents, tired and overworked/underpaid educators, and our 'new' fast paced info society and having to be 'up and in the know' through new technology.
Its easy to fall into routine and pass the buck by saying 'you just don't know how good you have it'.
Now, back onto the subject of competitiion vs passion and which is a better tool to succeed.... because that's what this is really about.
First I need to say I'm all for competition, however, there are many ways to succeed and they are not all based on this idea of competition. Competition is a secondary nature to the product... achieving a goal.
Passion, Desire, and Fortitude are what need to be taught, and those don't require competition in the equation in order to succeed, because success isn't measured by what the next person is doing, but how content you are with what you gained.
6. a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything: a passion for music.
Passion begins the road that competition plays on. If a child is taught the piano, and is forced to play concerts in order to be 'better' or to measure up to other people, when the child gets bored, they'll move on.
Take that same child who is passonate about playing the piano and put them through the same ordeal, they will be a better pianist because they have the desire and passon to do so.
There are many ways/methods of competition, and one is to not compete, but to stay focused on what you want, desire... and it doesn't always mean competiting with the guy beside you....
Look at University grads, I know some of you stats junkies out there will like this one... just because they have a Masters, doesn't mean they'll get the job.. you need social skills, charisma, and a willingness to grow and adapt.... Those are all personal 'improvements' that person did to thier character to make them more impersonable. Did or could they have done it based on competition, in order to get the job over someone else... sure, but they could have also done it because they saw a need to make a change within themselves because they didn't like that aspect of themself...
You're right, competition is everywhere, but you have a choice weither to compete or find another avenue to achieve your personal goals.
This idea that there is only 1 price and everyone needs to compete for it, is infectous and doesn't represent our westernized society... there are many ways to achieve a specific desire.
Now, if you're talking about becoming 'insert a top position in government, big business, etc', sure... without a doubt, the easiest way to get that position is by competing for it based on your personal investmetns... however, that has to be the goal: to get that position...
On the flip side, you could make your own company/business/idea, and become that person too.... Sure, now you'll have to compete as a business instead of as a person, but now the games changed with new rules. The difference is creation vs competition.
In either case, you'd better be passionate about what you're doing.
As for school, there's soo much competition (for grades, social standing (fashion/popularity/family wealth, etc etc), sports, etc) in schools and after school activities (skateboarding, video games/mmo/first person, whatever) that by taking a few activities out of school in order to save what's important (education).... yeah.
Having said all that, if the homeschooling parrents don't have a good head on thier shoulders it's better for the kid to put them into public/private schooling.... or get tutors to suppliment thier childrens education.
IMO, we as parrents put too much emphasis on competition. It's in everything, but it doesn't have to be.
... Our grandparrents said we had it easy, our parrents said we have it easy, and now we say our children have it easy... yet growing up was not easy in any way, shape, or form... It was just, different, with its own set of unique stress inducers brought on by competitive parrents, tired and overworked/underpaid educators, and our 'new' fast paced info society and having to be 'up and in the know' through new technology.
Its easy to fall into routine and pass the buck by saying 'you just don't know how good you have it'.
Now, back onto the subject of competitiion vs passion and which is a better tool to succeed.... because that's what this is really about.
First I need to say I'm all for competition, however, there are many ways to succeed and they are not all based on this idea of competition. Competition is a secondary nature to the product... achieving a goal.
Passion, Desire, and Fortitude are what need to be taught, and those don't require competition in the equation in order to succeed, because success isn't measured by what the next person is doing, but how content you are with what you gained.
6. a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything: a passion for music.
Passion begins the road that competition plays on. If a child is taught the piano, and is forced to play concerts in order to be 'better' or to measure up to other people, when the child gets bored, they'll move on.
Take that same child who is passonate about playing the piano and put them through the same ordeal, they will be a better pianist because they have the desire and passon to do so.
There are many ways/methods of competition, and one is to not compete, but to stay focused on what you want, desire... and it doesn't always mean competiting with the guy beside you....
Look at University grads, I know some of you stats junkies out there will like this one... just because they have a Masters, doesn't mean they'll get the job.. you need social skills, charisma, and a willingness to grow and adapt.... Those are all personal 'improvements' that person did to thier character to make them more impersonable. Did or could they have done it based on competition, in order to get the job over someone else... sure, but they could have also done it because they saw a need to make a change within themselves because they didn't like that aspect of themself...
You're right, competition is everywhere, but you have a choice weither to compete or find another avenue to achieve your personal goals.
This idea that there is only 1 price and everyone needs to compete for it, is infectous and doesn't represent our westernized society... there are many ways to achieve a specific desire.
Now, if you're talking about becoming 'insert a top position in government, big business, etc', sure... without a doubt, the easiest way to get that position is by competing for it based on your personal investmetns... however, that has to be the goal: to get that position...
On the flip side, you could make your own company/business/idea, and become that person too.... Sure, now you'll have to compete as a business instead of as a person, but now the games changed with new rules. The difference is creation vs competition.
In either case, you'd better be passionate about what you're doing.
As for school, there's soo much competition (for grades, social standing (fashion/popularity/family wealth, etc etc), sports, etc) in schools and after school activities (skateboarding, video games/mmo/first person, whatever) that by taking a few activities out of school in order to save what's important (education).... yeah.
Having said all that, if the homeschooling parrents don't have a good head on thier shoulders it's better for the kid to put them into public/private schooling.... or get tutors to suppliment thier childrens education.
IMO, we as parrents put too much emphasis on competition. It's in everything, but it doesn't have to be.
GW2_Guardian
SWtOR_Marauder
WAR_White Lion_Iron Rock
Amins_WOW_Shaman_Crushridge
Aminion_DAOC_RM_Mid/Guin
Bnobo_Dark Ages_Monk/Rogue
SWtOR_Marauder
WAR_White Lion_Iron Rock
Amins_WOW_Shaman_Crushridge
Aminion_DAOC_RM_Mid/Guin
Bnobo_Dark Ages_Monk/Rogue