By Christy Lee

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
—Booker T. Washington

About a month ago, I was at a middle school track meet, waiting for my 7th-grade daughter’s turn to throw the discus. A group of six girls came and sat next to me on the grass. They hardly noticed I was there—they were fully immersed in conversation with each other and a nearby group of boys. They weren’t competing in the track meet; they were just hanging out.

These girls were beautiful, but their words didn’t reflect that beauty. They were scrolling through their phones, mocking other people's social media posts, and shouting things to the boys to get attention and laughs.

They may not have been in the track meet, but they were definitely caught in a different kind of competition—a competition for friendship, attention, validation. And even though they were surrounded by each other, they all seemed… lonely. As their energy and negativity escalated, I quietly got up and moved to sit near a different group of girls.

This second group, made up of about eight girls from three different schools, was also waiting for their turn to throw. Technically, they were competitors—but it didn’t feel that way. They were cheering each other on, offering advice, and helping one another with their form. Everyone wanted to do well, but no one seemed to feel they had to win at the expense of someone else.

What I witnessed was powerful: growth, encouragement, real connection. They weren’t just competing—they were creating. Creating better versions of themselves, stronger friendships, and a more uplifting environment. And the results showed. Their technique was improving, their confidence was rising, and they genuinely seemed to enjoy each other’s success.

The contrast between these two groups was so clear. I found myself wishing I could go back and tell the first group of girls what I could so clearly see: You are incredible daughters of God. You weren’t sent here to compete—you were sent here to create.

What if competition wasn’t even real? What if life wasn’t a race, but an opportunity to build something beautiful at our own pace? What if someone else’s success in health, career, or relationships didn’t mean we were behind—just on a different timeline? What if we truly believed that we could create the life we want, without comparison or rush?

When we remove the need to compete, we also remove fear and doubt. That frees up energy to move forward with purpose and joy—and to lift others along the way.

In science class, we learn that everything has a vibration or frequency. Our thoughts are no different. Positive thoughts—especially gratitude and love—vibrate at higher frequencies. These higher vibrations open our minds to inspiration and creative ideas, which fuel positive emotions and actions, eventually shaping the life we want.

The reverse is also true. Negative thoughts lower our frequency and make room for more negativity, competition, and fear. That’s when the thoughts creep in: You’re not good enough. You’ll never catch up. You have to prove yourself. In that mindset, we feel like we have to scramble just to stay afloat, comparing ourselves to others and feeling like we’re always behind. And even if we do claw our way to the top, we won’t enjoy it—because someone will always seem a step ahead.

So how do we shift our thoughts and raise our frequency?

We turn to the Law of Vibration, which teaches:
“Your thoughts control your personal vibration. Change your thoughts, get emotional about them, and you'll change what is attracted to you.”
—Mindset Mastery, Trevan and Leslie Householder, p. 11

When I focus on gratitude, I feel a genuine peace about where I’m at and where I’m headed. I still have areas I’m working on, but I don’t feel pressured to have it all figured out right now. I trust the process more. I know I can create the life I want—without competition, and without panic.

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