Comments on: Compete Less. Encourage More.

By: Gerald Landis

Gerald Landis — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:37:37 +0000

Vitamin “E” equates to “Encouragement.

If we would yell less and encourage others more. Our lives and lives of other would
be so much better.

I believe one reason I enjoyed a conservative Bible church in Georgia over another
conservative Bible church in Florida is that the leaders and members spoke softly and
gently in Ga. Both churches were in the same circle of churches and were similiar. I enjoyed
the gentle leaders much more. The Florida church was full of special loving people but some spoke there with a loud voice when trying to correct or help you.

Gentle leaders are more effective than leaders with a loud mouth even though the big mouths met well.

We need to be gentle with our speech and our actions.

Be gentle with our “mouths” and “actions.”

By: Danique Williams

Danique Williams — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:32:01 +0000

I guess I’ll be reading some more on this minimalist lifestyle.

By: Danique Williams

Danique Williams — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:30:18 +0000

So true. Very refreshing article. I have experienced both competition and encouragement and encouragement is so much more gratifying. Good stuff!

By: Rise

Rise — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:18:19 +0000

‘competition’ has entered in every part of our life and with almost everyone – siblings, friends, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, etc.

Though it is said that ‘competition’ brings the best out of an individual, I wonder if ‘encouragement’ could bring the best out of the human race.

I guess it depends on the way we define ‘progress’ – our progress.

By: Stewart

Stewart — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:23:07 +0000

My step-son ran his first marathon in London this year. You’re so right about the attitude of long distance runners encouraging each other. He picked up a knee injury at around 12 miles but the runners around him kept him going and he made it to the end.

We were looking for a quote for a card and found this:

“If you want to win something run 100 meters. If you want to experience something run a marathon.”

There is something special about sharing an experience with others. Everyone around you knows how hard it is for you because it is just as hard for them. None of you will ‘win’ because by the time you reach half way some guy will have finished but that doesn’t matter.

There are so many lessons we can learn. Thanks for a thought provoking post.

By: We Live Simply link love | we live simply :: learning to live simply so others may simply live

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:34:48 +0000

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By: Gil

Gil — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:21:26 +0000

Well said, Art

By: ART

ART — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:56:12 +0000

Too bad these principles are not applied in Corporate America, it is all the opposite where competition is heavily encouraged and promoted via the annual ranking sessions where there can only be a Number one and there has to be someone at the bottom of the pile. Some people interprets this as a green light to back stab their co-workers in order to get ahead and get the largest piece of pie from raises and any bonuses.
I work for a large corporation and annual ranking sessions are the most stressful time of the year for me and most everyone else.
During the last two years of economic turmoils this has been accentuated even more to the point where last year the company that I work for demanded that managers rank 40% of the employees at the two lowest brackets of the curve.
This has been one of my largest motivators to adopt a less materialist approach to life and find ways to get out of this situation and find a way to provide the income my family needs to live. I have a kids going to college this Fall and another one in two years and my plan is to fully adopt a full minimalist lifestyle once both are done to enjoy more life without being force to stab my fellow co-workers.

By: Gil

Gil — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:03:42 +0000

One thing I have learned in this minimalist journey is that coming in first doesn’t make you a winner and being last doesn’t make you a loser. Respect for each other makes us all winners.

By: Jess@minimalistmum

Jess@minimalistmum — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:08:02 +0000

Perhaps the healthiest competition is only with yourself…