Competition In Everyday Social Life

January 13, 2026

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People spend a lot of time on their phones. And while saying something like, “Back in my day, this wasn’t the case”, makes absolutely zero sense simply because of the fact that ‘back in the day’ there weren’t any phones.

So yeah, back to people having huge amounts of screen time, particularly on social media. And on it, we’re constantly being blasted with money, more money, more friends, better cars, bigger houses, more lip filler, more expensive Seigner clothing, etc., etc. And yes, it’s exhausting.

This is why people go out a bit more, just to get away from the 5G and their phone, which they seemingly can’t live without. And while this works to some extent, you notice this competitiveness that you saw earlier in your mobile; you see it IRL.

For instance, you’re sharing a funny situation you’ve experienced with your friend, when in the middle of the sentence, another person jumps into the frame with an EVEN funnier story, trying to trump you. And, it’s annoying.

So what do you do about all this? Do you avoid competition altogether? Well, no, not really. Nor do you want to. Competition is cool, but only when you’re the one winning the prizes (money, likes, popularity, attention, etc.); but when someone else wins, not so much.

Competition is not something that is intrinsically bad. Until it’s taken to an unhealthy level, that is.

Where Competition Shows Up

For the most part, competition in your daily life isn't something that's glaringly obvious. It's definitely there, though, and you notice it, even though you don't always call it out.

And it doesn't have to be bad.

You might find yourself constantly comparing what you do and who you are against others through routine interactions, like carefully choosing an outfit for a dinner party or sharing photos of the perfectly plated meal you made recently. It's all normal. You're not trying to defeat anyone, you're just figuring out where you stand.

There's also the more obvious competition you see in formal settings, like in sports. And let's face it, it's what makes sports fun. The difference is that with sports, it's the kind of competition you agree to, so you know what you're up for.

Let's say you sign up for a league sport, like pickleball. You know the rules, and you want the highest score possible. So you show up with your elongated pickleball paddles in hand, ready to show who's best.

If you compare these two types of competition, you can really see how silent the everyday kind is, which is why you probably don't even pay attention to it.

You know exactly what it is, but if you call it 'competition', it becomes way too harsh and too aggressive when all you're doing is trying to bake a cake and get likes on Instagram.

The CEO of Pickleball Nation said this very accurately – “The balance between professionalization and social play is very important because it helps the sport remain a people’s game at heart.”

It's much nicer to think that your social life is all support and harmony. If you admit you're comparing yourself to someone else or that you're looking for an edge, it can make you feel insecure, or you might even come off as unkind. So you tell yourself you're just making conversation by telling our cousin about the bonus you got at work. Underneath, though, you want recognition.

You want to be admired just a teensy bit more than you were a second ago. There's nothing malicious about that, though. That's how humans are wired to connect and find their place in the group.

How Competition Changes How People Act

So now that you can see competition in plain sight, you're probably wondering what exactly it does to people.

Does it change the way they act? And if it does, is it something they're consciously doing or something that just happens, whether they want to or not? The shortest answer is that competition can motivate some and do the complete opposite to others.

Whether we like it or not, it does bend trust and cooperation a little.

All this 'me versus you' in friend groups – because you both want credit – can make trust feel a bit conditional. This whole comparison game changes the way you act because how could it not?

Luckily, friend groups are smart, and people naturally find ways to lighten that tension.

You make jokes, or you might even avoid talking about stuff like salaries or your kids' grades. You laugh while you gently point out the competition, and you remind everyone you're all on the same team.

Conclusion

Competition is part of life. It may be on a pickleball court, it might be in the office, it might be with friends, at home – pretty much anywhere. Competition is simply something that’s there, basically on a daily basis.

There’s no need to eliminate it or feel bad/anxious/stressed about it. Instead, you can try seeing it for what it is – a normal (and at the same time silly) part of getting along with other people.

Once you look at the world through these lenses, you’ll be so much happier!

Plus, you’ll have a better social life.