AUSTRALIA ~ The Antipodes

AUSTRALIA ~ The Antipodes
I love a sunburnt country / A land of sweeping plains / Of ragged mountain ranges / Of droughts and flooding rains / I love her far horizons / I love her jewel-sea / Her beauty and her terror / The wide brown land for me / ~ Dorothea Mackellar (1885-1968)

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Saturday, March 1, 2008

Empowered and Rivalry - for Writer's Island




Rivalry ~
Clashed
Clenched
Clamour ~
Conniving
Cunning ~

Cutting
Chaotic

Contest ~
Chagrin ~

Can be
Empowering
~
There is something about competition that fires the spirit.
What may begin as tame rivalry, becomes a proving ground.
No longer ~ I can do it!
But ~ I can do better!
I can do better than him/her!
I AM BETTER!
~
Rivalry tests and feeds self-confidence.
Is that bad?
It can be bad if it becomes a passion for rivalry's sake.

Sometimes, what may begin as "honest" rivalry, testing a level of knowledge or skill against another's, evolves into a manic need to be better than the other person. More than skill and knowledge is at stake. An ego, a sense of self importance is on the line. "It" (not I) must win!

And when the decision is made at all costs!, then other, more devious factors come into play.

Tactics become a weapon of choice. The dark power of cunning and deceit become the bullets. Crippling a victim becomes the quest. All power to the conquering, blustering, self-opiniated ego! Competition? What competition? It's no contest!
~
Sinuous seeds
Soggy soils
Sordid shame
~
But then, never under-estimate the humble "little people", who know the power of their own truth, and do not need manipulative tactics to prove it. They may look unempowered, but truth has a habit of establishing a power far beyond mortal ken. Just wait awhile!
~
The Christians waited awhile for the mighty Romans to implode on their own egos.
Nature waits awhile for humanity to hang itself on its own artificial sense of superior progress.
~
While rivalry remains a test of skill and knowledge, simultaneously acknowledging and respecting the power of "the opponent", then it is a healthy power for the spirit. But when the power of the opponent is ignored, mocked or abused, the natural truth of yin and yang has a disturbing sense of knowing just how to right the balance more than effectively.

14 comments:

Constance Brewer said...

"Sometimes, what may begin as "honest" rivalry, testing a level of knowledge or skill against another's, evolves into a manic need to be better than the other person."

This is so true! Good thoughts all the way around on the topic. Love the path picture, too.

Anonymous said...

Love the wordplay here:
"Sinuous seeds
Soggy soils
Sordid shame"

Lifeless in Ohio said...

I agree, rivalry "can be bad if it becomes a passion for rivalry's sake." I loved that line because I believe it defines the difference between positive and negative competition. You never disappoint me - I enjoy your writing.

UL said...

very nicely put Gemma....rivalry often leans toward one of a negative kind but it doesnt necessarily have to be that way...

paisley said...

i have never had much of a competitive spirit and as i age it lessens... sometimes i am happy for this as it leads to little disappointment.. but there are times i do wish i felt more drive to excel....

Medhini said...

Hey,

That was interesting. I loved your concept about truth and it's power. I somehow feel 'rivalry' can never be healthy but 'competition' can be healthy.

gautami tripathy said...

I loved the alliteration. God thoughts.

teachers bleed too

Tumblewords: said...

Provocative empowering and inspirational - your words work so well!

anthonynorth said...

An excellent deconstruction of an element of rivalry. Indeed, it tests us - thrusts us on to excel.
I've often noticed in some competitions, if there is no clear frontrunner at the beginning, standards are not particularly high throughout.
Just one who excels raises the game of the others.

rebecca said...

i believe that once the ego is released, it is then that you truly become empowered....the ego, in its quest to sate the "I" at all costs, is debilitating in the end.

it is the "little people" or the unacknowledged ones that do not feel the need to be proven wrong or right that sometimes carry more strength than we know....as they say, "still waters run deep."

good post...very good post.

Anonymous said...

Powerful words, eloquent post as always. The rivalry I know now is no longer debilitating, it's healthy and worthwhile ... it's waiting in us all ;)

Anonymous said...

EGO=Edging God Out

Jeques said...

Gemma,

It is interesting that you talked about this side of rivalry and empowerment in this article. You brought so much light in this prompt with your words and thoughts. This is a great contibution.

Often, the underdogs get my sympathy in a rivalry - they give more empowering side of the story. And the win, it is always glorious.

I always thought of myself as underdog in the battles I fought.

The prize is always rewarding.

I'd like to hear people asking after my triumphs:

How did you do that?

I wish you well.

~ Jeques

Rob Kistner said...

"...when the power of the opponent is ignored, mocked or abused, the natural truth of yin and yang has a disturbing sense of knowing just how to right the balance more than effectively."

How profoundly true and sage... ;)

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