{"id":1657,"date":"2015-05-12T01:54:32","date_gmt":"2015-05-12T01:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1657"},"modified":"2015-05-11T19:04:51","modified_gmt":"2015-05-11T19:04:51","slug":"tlc-tuesday-take-competition-out-of-the-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/05\/tlc-tuesday-take-competition-out-of-the-day.html","title":{"rendered":"TLC Tuesday: Take Competition Out of the Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Maureen<\/a>We do it every day, although much of the time we probably don’t even think about it consciously. Yet, we compete – against against traffic, against fellow shoppers, against the clock, against the world. Even, sometimes, against ourselves (for example, can we go even one more rep in the gym, or fit in one more commitment?). Yes, we are competitive creatures – but oh, how being competitive can make us stressed and often prompt us to lose sight of what is truly important in our lives!<\/p>\n

Being competitive automatically puts a qualifier on how we view each other – at work, are we better, more popular, or smarter than everyone else? In traffic, are we critical of other drivers as we take unnecessary risks ourselves? When we look at ourselves, do we see God’s wonderful child, or do we see smoeone who could be thinner, prettier, more muscular, or taller?<\/p>\n

The truth about being competitive is that we will never be better, smarter, richer, or more attractive than every person or thing we come in contact with. By “turning on” our competitive spirit when it is appropriate, and moderating it when it is not, we will be able to enter into relationships with others and activities with less stress and more pure joy.<\/p>\n

Today, try to notice the ways in which you exercise the urge to compete. Not if or how it makes you tenser, physically or emotionally. Encourage yourself to take the world, others, and yourself as you are – approaching all with love.<\/p>\n

Taking competition out of even one day a week just might make us happier for days to come!<\/p>\n

Joys,
\nMaureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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