SushiK:
Philosophical/morality question of the day:
Is it possible to be competitive without attachment to unskillful feelings? (The attention of others, wanting to be better than everyone else, etc).
The only skillful one I found was being competitive to inspire other to do better solely for their own good (and not the extra attention of being an inspiration).
Any thought? Is competition immoral?
I'm struggling with that in relation to my fitness practice. It's a group setting and I always tend to lift heavier, try to go faster than others.
Different motivations lead me to do that, the easier to analyse being the extra attention I get from it.
How to reframe my competitive spirit in a skillful way? How would you tackle the neediness for attention?
Thanks a lot friends
The neediness for attention might be helped by meditation.
Try to notice how you feel about it. Ask youself "why do I need attention", keep asking because there could be mulitiple layers of answers. Notice if the answers involve "I want ..." or don't want or like or don't like. Also notice the "I". This "I" arises into consciousness from unconscious processes in the mind (just like every thought emotion, impulse, sense perception). It is an illusion. Revisit this occassionally.
Notice how you feel before you get attention, while you are trying to get attention, while you are getting attention? After you get attention? What causes the feelings? What is associated with the feeling ending? When you want attention, notice the feeling of wanting. Notice if there is a common aspect to all situations where you feel wanting. What is wanting? Why do you want anything?
Observe (let yourself feel) the feelings that come up from this while relaxing. Notice any feelings in your body that accompany the emotions. Try to stay mindful that you are observing so you can be somewhat detached ie emotions don't take over your mind because you realize they are not reality, just something you are observing that arose from unconscious processes in your mind.
(There is a kind of opposing force between letting yourself feel your emotions and being a detached observer - getting this balance right takes practice and experimentation, too much of either one (wallowing in self pity or suppression) can cause problems. In my opinion the right balance is the key to getting free from all sorts of emotional baggage - and eventually free from the fetter of identity view. Attachment to self is the hardest emotion to let go of, so practice first on the easier things.)
Otherwise I don't think the question you are asking about is an issue of morality. It doesn't sound like you are harming anyone, cheating, or gloating.
It is a question of what is best for your progress on the path. Is it hindering you?
My opinion, based what you say in your post, is that you don't need to worry about it.
If you are meditating regularly, eventually you might feel you don't like being competitive and so you stop being competitive because you want to stop, because of how you feel, not because of philosophy. If your motivation is egotistical (attention seeking) stopping could be a sign of progress, if your motivation is to be as fit as possible maybe because it makes you healthy, your feelings might not change.
Enjoy your workouts.
