In 1980, Theodore Isaac Rubin wrote the book entitled “Reconciliations: Inner Peace in an Age of Anxiety” that has an essay titled “Competition and Happiness.” He defined his ideas and beliefs on how competitions are limiting people’s ability to have happy and satisfying lives. Even though it is comprehended that competition does good to the participants, Theodore Rubin vividly posits that competition directs people to live unhappily. His views are one-sided and direct. Rubin strongly believes that competition not only reveals the worst in people, but also arouses jealousy, envy, and paranoia in people. He also shows that possessing a competing nature makes the person to focus on his or her competitors and how they are practicing and performing and failed to realize what he or she has to do for his or her self-improvement. As a result, this will weaken our sense of identity, and it will let down the person in a self-depleting cycle.
Theodore also detects that parents may pass down their competitive drive to their children and may force the children to stand out in sports, academic, school, and other extracurricular activities. If the children do not win in a competition, it can finally disturb their personal health and inner peace. The author confronts his own experience about a practice at a university in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is known as noncompetitive system. Approximately 80 Americans took part in the noncompetitive system where there were no curves and no competitions, and the students were ranked individually and not based on other students. They were friendly and even assisted each other to come through. As there is little motivation in Swiss noncompetitive system, the Americans organized competitive groups. It leads them to stop talking to their former friends who came to Switzerland together because now they see each other as competitors.
The process of evolution is not possible without the driving force to survive. Likewise, it is not possible for human beings to attain their full potentiality if there was no want to succeed. In this essay, Theodore Isaac Rubin also reports how competition weakens our attempts to form a self-realizing value system foreclosing the accomplishment of happiness. Nevertheless, competition gives motivation that grants people to attain their full potentiality due to the benign force that motivates them to win.
Even though Theodore Rubin discusses the advantages of noncompetitive system in Switzerland, he glosses over the disadvantages of having no competition as in China. China is still communist, but it did not permit free trade but ran government-owned factories. This ensured that everybody would get the same kind of job regardless of ability or talent. Even though this seemed to be a better idea, finally factories would be in debt because of slow production by the unskilled workers. It is an integral that by interacting in a no competitive environment production was impeded because of no motivation. If there were no promotion, then there would not be any goal of hard work. Therefore, instead of getting profit, China was facing a heavy loss of money every year from its factories. From that point on, China would eventually move to a free trade market and closed down the government-owned factories. Then, there will develop a healthy competition among people to let them actively contend with each other for better jobs. Therefore, this conversion to a competitive work environment will force the Chinese to work more as opposed to the unenergetic and slow going workplace. Because of furnishing competitive air, people will strain to grow themselves, which is opposed to the negative consequences described by Theodore Rubin.
Not only has history presented the negative effects of lack of competition, but also my own personal experiences in running can demonstrate the positive aspects of competition. Normally, during the running practice, I do not push my own limits unless it is a very difficult drill. During the competitions, I will try as hard as I can in order to come through. I can attain my full potential as a runner by participating in an environment of competition. It gives a sense of motivation to win them when competing against fellow runners. If I am not successful, then, I still get a sense of achievement because I tried out my level best to win. This proves that competition not only renders intending to accomplish our potential, but also presents a sense of achievement when we try our hardest. Competition does not establish negative characteristics, but rather gives advantages. This is represented through China’s conversion to a free trade and my own personal betterment due to my want to get success in running competitions. Therefore, instead of concentrating on losing or winning, we have to try to meliorate ourselves, and we will be the winners no matter the consequences.
Theodore Rubin furnishes distinct, convincing instances, and I have got same experience in many incidents. In this essay, he provides efficaciously convincing examples to demonstrate his idea. He discourses parents’ dilemma trying to find complacency at the expense of their kids’ sporting events. I have seen such situation in person. One day my relative courteously invited me to watch her daughter’s basketball match and assured me that I would love it. I clearly recall my aunt aggressively shouting for her daughter at her game, while exerting unrealistic expectation for her and her team. The others in the stadium feared the fierce environment she caused. Recently, her daughter quit basketball because of the embarrassment her mother put her through. This kind of attitude of parents is evidencing the negative aspects of competition. Theodore Isaac Rubin says that competition is closely related to jealousy and envy. If allowed, this envy and jealousy can inscribe itself between two children easily. I have witnessed two old friends not speak to each other for two years because of the intrusion of jealousy and envy into their competitive nature. The one was angered at the other for getting better treatment from their coach. This kind of competition spoils relationship. Although competition is there in almost every aspect of our lives, sometimes it can make us face daunting results.
We cannot get happiness by doing easy tasks, but from the gratification that comes after the accomplishment of a tough work that required our best. Though I agree with many of Rubin’s points and opinions, I have some slight dissensions. I think that overly much competition can surely result in an unhealthy and unhappy lifestyle. However, competition should be healthy and friendly and then only it will give motivation to work more to get success. Competition should be seen as a driving force to push ourselves to be the best. If there was no competition, there would be no point in motivating us to excel in whatever we do. In addition, parents should not pressurize their kids to take part in a specific sport or learn a particular instrument. They should leave their children to do something up to their interests and ability. Otherwise, this will bring stress and they will lose their individuality. This will lead the children to grow to resent their parents. Friendly relationships should not be destroyed due to overwhelming competitive drive. Competition should not be removed or terminated from our day-to-day life; it should be a healthy competition by maintaining healthy limits.
Works Cited
Rubin, Theodore Isaac. “Competition and Happiness.” Reconciliation: Inner Peace in an Age of Anxiety. N.p.: Viking, 1980. 260. Print.
Cunningham, Donna. “The Pitfalls of Revenge and Spite.” Healing Pluto Problems. York Beach, Me.: S. Weiser, 1986. 79. Print.
Rubin, Theodore Isaac. "Competition and Happiness." Teacherweb.com. Web. 7 Mar. 2014. <teacherweb.com/CA//bond/Competition-and-Happiness-Round-1.docx>.
