Greetings, dear friends,

As I journey through these recent months, a recurring theme has emerged - competition. That age-old dance where we find ourselves compelled to prove our worth, battling others to claim our slice of the pie. It's that nagging feeling that we must outshine the rest to feel 'enough.' Have you felt it too? That whisper of anxiety, the fear that if someone else succeeds, we might fail; if we're not the best, we won't get what we desire.

Competition rears its head in various facets of our lives, but what is it truly saying? What belief is it trying to etch into our minds? And where does it originate? Does it genuinely nurture our growth or subtly shrink our potential?

For me, personally, this journey intersects with my endeavor to scale my small business. It involves stepping beyond the comfort zone, venturing into the unknown, and confronting self-doubt as I navigate the solitary path of a woman entrepreneur. And accompanying me on this rollercoaster is the ever-present companion - Competition. It lurks in social media, the vast expanses of the web, in the stories shared by friends and acquaintances, local businesses, even within the folds of family, colleagues, and my own psyche. Everywhere I turn, it's there.

Of course, competition isn't all gloom and doom. At times, it's the nudge we need, the fire under our feet, urging us to push harder. That's not necessarily a bad thing. However, there's a darker side to this relentless competition. It has, at times, robbed me of joy and potential income. It's canceled classes, buried promising ideas, and sustained the harsh inner critic that insists, "It will never work; I can't do it; I'm not enough."

Now, if you're reading this and thinking it's speaking directly to you, remember the first of the four agreements: don't take this personally. I understand that the specter of competition haunts many of us. But I've noticed it weaving its threads throughout my journey, and I've decided to use its presence as a mirror for self-reflection, a catalyst for growth. If this resonates with you, I invite you to join me on this exploration.

In my meditations and moments of introspection, I've begun by acknowledging what competition truly means to me. When I buy into the narrative of "competition," I instantly plunge into a mindset of fear and scarcity. It fosters the belief that only one can prevail, that someone else doing something similar is "better than" me. It seeks to crush my dreams and ideas, particularly when I witness other teachers or studios succeeding in realms I aspire to. It breeds jealousy and a sense of unworthiness. It diminishes me, whispering that my efforts, skills, and offerings are redundant or "too late."

Let's be clear: this is all a facade, a charade that I'm awakening to and challenging.

Competition forces everything into the binary realm of ME versus THEM. It's felt uncomfortably real, but it's never resonated with my deeper knowing. Deep down, I'm certain that there's an alternative. I know there are other perspectives, different choices, ways forward that don't succumb to fear.

Allow me to share a story. In my past life, I managed over $1 billion of government funds designated for employment training programs. My role included overseeing programs aimed at assisting disadvantaged youth in accessing resources to enter or re-enter the workforce. States and localities were tasked with either providing a vast array of services (beyond their financial means) or collaborating with others. Here's the catch: instead of seeking partnerships to create an integrated, effective program, they often perceived themselves as "in competition." Consequently, they struggled, and their programs suffered. It was disheartening, seeing how this mindset negatively affected the youth and hindered program performance. Opportunities for collaboration and progress lay before them, but they were paralyzed by fear and scarcity.

Fast forward to today. I don't possess the resources or manpower of those government organizations. I don't even have a prescribed mission - it's up to me to define and execute it! As I navigate the challenges of starting and growing my own business, I see these same obstacles from a different perspective - that of a service provider trying to thrive. I've engaged with many other teachers, healers, studios, and businesses, learning how they grapple with these same issues. Sadly, even in this profession, the fear-driven business mindset often erects walls instead of recognizing the potential for growth through support and collaboration.

But does it have to be this way? Must we always yield to the competition, believe that only one can prevail?

This brings me to the second aspect: our self-worth. A wise teacher once reminded me that our uniqueness, our message, our approach - the elements that no one else possesses - are precisely what the world needs. She emphasized that if we are called to this work, there's a reason, a unique, valuable perspective we must share. It's not only acceptable; it's imperative. Who else has lived your exact life, experienced your unique lessons, education, and soul mission? No one. Every aspect of your journey contributes to the tapestry of who you are and what you bring forth.

Perhaps you've noticed that when seeking services like financial advice or a real estate agent, you feel a certain energetic connection with some individuals but not others. You're drawn to certain people based on your energetic resonance. People come into your life for distinct reasons, and we need them to fulfill their purpose. Everyone has a purpose, a value, a reason to show up authentically, 100% as they are called to do. If we can truly embrace this belief, lean into it, and trust it, competition loses its grip on us. Instead, it becomes an opportunity for collaboration or, at the very least, companionship on our similar journeys.

I may not have all the answers about how to navigate these shifts in real life, but I refuse to let my ego keep me small. I'm weary of falling into the traps of fear, succumbing to beliefs that may feel genuine but are contradicted by my higher knowing. I'm tired of perpetuating the falsehood that I'm not enough just as I am, that I have nothing to offer the world by being myself. No more.

So, I'm going to try. I'm going to notice those moments when competition or feelings of unworthiness surface, and I'll use them as mirrors, as signs guiding me toward my aspirations. I'll uplift others, seek opportunities for collaboration, and bolster my vision without allowing doubt, fear, or insecurity to dismantle it.

Will you join me on this journey?

In unity and authenticity,

xoxo

Jess