Luke Skywalker and Han Solo were rivals but it was interesting to see how their motives evolved. Initially they both wanted to impress Princess Lea and this is what drove them. As the trilogy progressed, the greater good became the focus, especially for Luke.
I hope I haven’t lost you, if you are not a Star Wars fan. Become one.
I can understand how it is easy to loose sight of what is important especially when everything seems like a competition. Ambition has been conceptualized in terms of competition for a lot of us. Competition places people in direct opposition to someone else. Then the focus becomes solely to be better than the other person, which can lead to hatred, corruption, and destruction. For a biblical example, think of Saul and David, David and Goliath, and even as early as Cain and Abel.
What is ambition? According to the Oxford Languages dictionary, ambition is the desire and determination to achieve success. When your conceptualization of ambition is based on being more successful that someone else then you have moved to the side of unhealthy competition.
How then can one have healthy ambition?
Know yourself and pursue self-growth: success should be gauged in terms of your growth and service to others. If you are focused on self-improvement and lifelong learning and you are taking steps to touch lives everyday, I believe you are a successful person. Your desire to achieve success in self-growth and service to mankind is a healthy ambition that should not place you in opposition with someone else. You are built to add value to people in your sphere and in a manner that nobody else can.
Focus: competition arises when the focus of success is inward. People compete to prove that they are the best, they can perform a service better, and they are above others. All these are self absorbed motives. However, if the focus of your ambition is outward, then the attention would be on who can get the job done better. Along the line, if you realize someone else can perform a task better that you can, then delegate. You are successful in self-reflection and resource management once you can identify others strengths and act accordingly. This will ensure that the work is done by the best possible candidate. The focus here would be on the outcome.
Think about the other person: unhealthy ambition is selfish and does not take others into consideration. Once your desire to be successful is focused on besting someone else, copying someone else, or has anything to do with someone else and not you adding value, then pause. The only time an external factor should be a part of your quest for success is as a recipient of your service, encouragement, or kindness!
I think this verse accurately says what I am trying to explain. Phil 2:3–4: Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Healthy ambition is outward and oriented towards adding value.
Sometimes you will be in positions where you have to compete with someone else. Make sure you understand why you’re competing and focus on the task at hand. If you find yourself in such a situation, do not devalue, defame, or down play someone else’s work, service, or selfhood to elevate yourself.
Remember to keep pushing to be and do better. And not because you are concerned with other people’s opinion of you. Do it because the world needs you and you deserve a better you.
~ Oluwatomisin Oyegoke~