“A little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right?” Barbara Moore

((The Steampunk Tarot, Moore and Fell))

Friendly competition is fine but be sure to keep an eye on it; if competition turns ugly, make sure you remember why you entered in the first place. Ask yourself questions such as

• What will I actually win (or lose)?
• What happens if I don’t (keep fighting)?
• What is the cost of the battle?

We can become so embroiled in the battle, so focused on “the win,” we may lose sight of the original goal or intention. We are taught “NEVER GIVE UP!” and that is truly lousy advice. (Don’t believe me? Google Pyrrhic victory, and get back to me.) We should be teaching (and learning) to assess as we move along, and recognize the walk away point (if there is one) as well as opportunities for improved positioning (if they exist). Discretion remains the better part of bravery because it allows you to fight another day.

TAKEAWAY: Choose your battles wisely.

((All images courtesy of Google Images and Facebook.))