A Life of Service Is Not a Competition

Choosing encouragement, not judgement, in the communities we serve alongside.

By Jana N. Yost, M.A., APCC | Coach & Consultant

Why do we feel the need to compete with others, even in spaces where competition was never required? I did not see that pull in myself until my twenties, when confidence began to grow. That confidence came with maturity and being recognized by others, and it grew out of authenticity, not performance.

I learned that early on as a student athlete on the Fresno State Bulldogs Track and Field Team. Confidence was built in community. In teammates who spoke encouragement out loud. In quiet support. A hug. A smile. I was strengthened by the people beside me, not measured against them.

Competition shows up in relationships more than we admit. Friendships. Marriages. Families. Work. Often it comes from the people closest to us, the ones we expect to love without comparison. Here in the Central Valley, where community matters, ranking service or judging one another only weakens the connection we say we value. No one serving community is better than another.

What would it look like if we showed up as encouragers instead of competitors? When encouragement becomes a posture, marriages grow stronger, and stronger marriages build communities.

Unconventional love is not a race. It is built by standing together.