It Is Time to Stop Competing and Start Connecting

Monday September 28, 2015

It Is Time To Stop Competing And Start Connecting

What is it about women that makes us so gosh darn competitive with one another?

It’s not flattering.
It doesn’t do any good.
And usually it doesn’t make any difference in the end.

No matter  your age, season of life, or level of maturity… as women we all struggle with competition to some extent.

The trouble is… we are on the same team and taking out another player only hurts us.

Do you get what I am saying? This is truly an unprecedented time in history for women. We have a voice, we have titles, and we have ownership. The system is not perfect, but it is the best it has ever been.

This disgusting behavior has been going on for centuries… the bible even provides us some examples of competition between women with the stories Sarah and Hagar as well as Rachel and Leah. 

Instead of these women working together (no matter how strange the circumstance seems to us in present day) they chose to cut each other down.

Last month I had the privilege of attending the Christian Women Business Organization luncheon and let me tell you… competition was not permitted in that room. We were required to put the needs of the other women before our own.  

Competition can be so very devastating but collaboration between strong, intelligent, God fearing women… can be dangerous!

No wonder the enemy tries so hard to pit us against one another… when we join forces we are truly a force to be reckoned with.

These women were all there representing their own business but in that room they represented Jesus.

I left there with hope. 
I left there with joy.
I left there wanting to help my fellow sisters achieve their goals and dreams.

When I got home I pondered on what it would look like if we stopped competing and started connecting.

What if we set our personal agendas aside and looked toward the kingdom? How much more glory would we bring to God if we were connecting and supporting other women instead of tearing them down shred by shred.

We somehow (subconsciously?) think tearing down another woman will make us feel better about ourselves and our own insecurities.

But really, when it is all said and done there is no prize to be won for feeling better about yourself.

Instead, you end up with a heart and head full of resentment, hatred, jealousy, bitterness, depression, anxiety, and probably more insecurities.

Bottom line… Let’s stop the competition.

Your successful company doesn’t make mine less successful.

Your happy marriage and thriving kids doesn’t make mine any less happy or thrivent.

Your fancy wardrobe, beautiful home, or snazzy car doesn’t make mine any less fancy, beautiful or snazzy.

I would venture to say that when we judge these things it is because we are simply insecure with ourselves.

So today, I encourage you to stop the competing and start connecting.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Galatians 6:4