We tend to see life as an all or nothing kind of game in which, to quote Will Ferrell from "Talladega Nights," “If you’re not first, you’re last.” Although Will's character, Ricky Bobby, may have won a bunch of races and earned a lot of money following this motto, it simply isn’t true. In fact, it’s exactly these kinds of lies that drive us to eat ice cream until we puke or cry or both.
So here’s a pep talk to ease you down from the ice cream ledge and remind you that in this world, you’re still pretty great even if you’re not in first place.
Just because you’re not the best, doesn’t mean you’re not awesome.
A lot of people think Marilyn Monroe is the most beautiful woman of all time. Well, you know who isn’t Marilyn? Beyoncé. Do you think Beyoncé really gets caught up on not being Marilyn? I can tell you right now that she probably doesn’t. Beyoncé looks at herself in the mirror and just does her own thing. Be like Beyoncé and when you start comparing yourself to other people, ask yourself “What would Beyoncé do?”
That doesn’t just go for your looks, it goes for everything. Just because you’re not the smartest doesn’t mean you're not smart and just because you’re not the funniest doesn’t mean you’re not funny. You know who’s not Albert Einstein? Steve Jobs, Obama and that one girl who answers all the questions in math class. Does that make them not smart? No, it just makes them not Albert Einstein. Thinking less of your talents because you’re not “as good” as someone else can be likened to saying you’re not a nice person because you’re not Mother Theresa.
Just because you didn’t win, doesn’t make you a loser.
OK, you didn’t get that part in the play—heck, maybe you didn’t get any part in the play. It doesn’t matter, though; the reality is that just because you didn’t win doesn’t make you a loser. I know it probably feels like you’re a loser when you don’t get something you worked hard for or think you should have gotten, but realize it takes courage and skill to even try. So kudos to you! Now quit comparing yourself to the guy who got the internship or the girlfriend of the boy you’ve always had a crush on. You’re just as good as them and believing it is half the battle.
Just because you didn’t win this time doesn’t mean you won’t ever win.
You’re not destined to fail, no matter what your tarot cards or fortune cookies say. If you keep trying, keep practicing and don’t give up, you’ll make it eventually. I know I probably sound like a motivational cat poster, but it’s true, OK? It may take a week or 10 years, but you can get to wherever you want to be—just don’t give up.
Because people who give up are…
Losers. Contrary to popular belief, it's not the guy in last place who's the loser, but the guy who comes in last and then never races again. Don't be that guy. Don't ever be that guy. It’s okay to have a small pity party, sad Adele music and all, but when you're done, get back up and keep going.
Besides, there is something you’ll always win at.
Cue the cheesy stuff because in the end, the only competition you can always win is the one in which you’re being yourself. Unless you’ve got a serious stalker who’s been watching you like a hawk, no one can do you better than you can. So, you’ll always be first at something and quite frankly, the rest doesn’t really matter.
Go win at life. I know you can do it!
