There is a quiet shift that happens at some point in every athlete’s journey. A moment when you realize the real competition isn’t standing next to you on the approach. It isn’t on the pair beside you. It isn’t even on the scoreboard.

It’s within you.

For me, learning to compete with myself changed everything. Not in a harsh, critical way. In a loving, intentional, deeply human way. It taught me how to love the process, trust imperfection, and find joy not just in winning, but in becoming.

What does it mean to compete with yourself in a healthy way?

To me, competing with yourself means always striving for a little better.

It’s knowing what you’re capable of, and gently pushing beyond it. Not with pressure. Not with fear. But with curiosity and belief.

It’s waking up each day asking, How can I grow today?
Not How can I beat everyone else?

Because when your focus stays inward, improvement becomes personal. It becomes meaningful. And it becomes sustainable.

The truth is, most of us underestimate our potential. We settle for what feels comfortable. We stop just short of what we’re truly capable of. Competing with yourself means refusing to stay there. It means always knowing that whatever you think your ceiling is, it’s actually higher.

A moment I had to shift my focus back inward

There were moments on TV, under the lights, when everything around me felt loud.

The crowd.
The cameras.
The expectations.
The comparisons.

It was easy to get pulled outward. To start thinking about my opponent. The score. What this moment might mean.

In those moments, I learned how to gently pull myself back inward.

I would narrow my world down to one breath, one shot, one decision. That was it. No scoreboard. No opponent. Just me and the lane.

When I did that, everything slowed. My body softened. My mind cleared. My trust returned.

That internal reset reminded me that my only real job was to execute my process. Not to be perfect. Not to impress. Just to stay present.

And every time I did, I found my rhythm again.

Keeping comparison from becoming self-sabotage

Comparison is the thief of joy. And in today’s world, it’s everywhere.

Social media has made it incredibly easy to compare our behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel. Kids especially grow up thinking they’re constantly falling short, not realizing they’re measuring themselves against curated moments, not reality.

I don’t compare myself to others. But I allow myself to be inspired by many.

There’s a huge difference.

Comparison drains.
Inspiration expands.

When you’re inspired, you learn. You grow. You dream bigger. When you compare, you shrink. You doubt. You disconnect from your own journey.

Your path was never meant to look like anyone else’s. The moment you honor that, everything changes.

What I want young athletes to understand

Always go for more.

Not more medals. Not more trophies. More belief. More curiosity. More courage.

Whatever you think your potential is, it’s higher. I promise.

Most young athletes don’t give themselves enough credit. They don’t see their growth. They don’t recognize their resilience. They don’t realize how much strength they already carry.

Competing with yourself isn’t about being harder on yourself. It’s about being more honest with what you’re capable of.

It’s about trusting the process.
Embracing imperfection.
Finding joy in the journey.

Because when you learn to compete with yourself, the sport becomes more than performance.

It becomes a purpose.

And that changes everything.