Walking Path(s), Objective(s), and Progression

When we talk about Objectives and Progression, we can take the simple example of a “Walk” Sometimes seen as a personal achievement for the day.

When we decide to go for a walk, there is always a “Departure” and an “Arrival”. But if we constantly focus only on the “Arrival“, it doesn’t help much in maintaining a good mood or positive attitude; Especially if there’s still a long way to go.

A more mindful approach is to focus on the progression rather than solely on the destination.

Whether we walk alone or in a group, imagining that we are all progressing; Even on different paths, facing different mountains, islands, or deserts; Can be mentally helpful.

We all bring different skills, perspectives, and strengths. In a group, team, workplace, or sports club, it’s natural; And even essential; For members to cover different abilities.

So, are we really in competition with one another? If we reflect on this deeply, perhaps not.

Imagine an athletic event with randomly selected participants from the general population. Some will be better at running, others at cycling, and so on.

You will never find the exact same skillset in two different people. Realizing this helps reduce stress, competition, and jealousy. It also encourages “Fair Play” and helps us stay optimistic; “Looking on the bright side of life.”

A team with less jealousy and unnecessary competition ultimately becomes a more effective, collaborative, and harmonious one.

Being overly jealous or competitive will never truly make us “win” anything — that’s just an illusion. Similarly, don’t worry too much about making mistakes. It’s impossible to live without them. In fact, we learn the most through failure — much more than through success.

Reducing jealousy and competition within a team helps reduce stress. When we form a mental picture of ourselves and those around us, we can better stay focused on our own work without being distracted by thoughts of competition. This strengthens relationships and communication.

We can also come to realize: There is no “best” or “worst” position among people. Just as in French we say “Il n’y a pas de sous-métier” ; “There is no undervalued job”; all contributions have value.

Have you ever noticed in a walking or cycling group, no one wants to be at the back? Mentally, being in the “last” position can feel like being a “loser,” socially weak. This feeling crosses gender and cultural boundaries.

But if we think about it logically, in any cycling or walking group, someone will always be in the last position. Does that really make them a loser? Is that position really that important? These are just mental constructs. We can all be “heroes” or “losers,” “first” or “last”; t’s simply a matter of perception.

Competition might seem motivating, but it often leads to stress and disconnection.

As they say in sports: “The most important thing is to participate.” We all have strengths in different areas. No one can be good at everything.

The real problem arises when people label others as “losers.” Often, those doing the labelling are afraid of being labelled themselves.

By relaxing and embracing the mindset that there’s no “bad seat” or “bad wagon”, we acknowledge that there’s no best or worst position. We all have “bad seats” sometimes — and that’s okay.

This helps reduce jealousy, toxic competition, and the resulting stress. It fosters better communication and encourages creativity — which thrives best in peaceful environments.

You can’t truly be creative in a stressful, toxic environment. And stress is everywhere.

The HealthInYourPlanet website aims to help reduce this stress. While there’s such a thing as positive stress, our focus here is on reducing the negative kind. And reducing stress is a Win-Win; It strengthens team spirit and builds collaboration.

Sometimes, career success comes more easily from sharing a cup of coffee with someone than from working alone and pushing ourselves into isolation.

Good relationships with others help us perform at our best. They allow us to receive useful information and create the fulfilment we need to succeed in our careers.

Maintaining Virtuous cycles supports ongoing creativity and resilience; Even when these cycles are fragile and occasionally break down. We must be ready to rebuild them from time to time.

We often achieve tasks together in groups, yet each of us has unique skills. Recognizing our differences helps reduce the urge to compare ourselves to others. And that comparison, while human, is often unproductive.

Instead, seeing our diversity reveals our collective richness:
“We are all different, with something to bring.”

By reducing our stress, we become more open and willing to share. We contribute to building virtuous cycles.

It’s not always easy to keep this mindset, but once people embrace it, the effect becomes contagious. Helping and sharing spread naturally.

Think of it like a Big wheel — hard to turn alone, but easier with others. Helping others is often the best way to help yourself. As some cultures say: “Help yourself, and the sky will help you.”

In Japanese, people often say “Ganbatte”; Meaning “Have courage”, “Do your best”, or simply “Take care.” Whether it’s a good day or a bad day, we are all progressing in our own way.

By focusing on our own progress and staying positive, we become more creative and effective — developing ourselves to our full potential.

When competition fades, creativity grows. We become better at our work, more consistent in our training, and more compassionate toward ourselves and others.

When we care for ourselves, we have more capacity to care for others. We can rebuild, repair, and improve what’s around us. And we must remind ourselves: we are only human — not unbreakable.

When we create and maintain a peaceful environment, it’s best to return to the roots — to mindfulness.

Mindfulness teachers often explain that our brain likes what feels good, but overthinking feeds the brain’s primitive (“reptilian”) parts in unhelpful ways.

But it’s never too late. We can always rebuild what we’ve broken. As Mahatma Gandhi explain us :

Make, “Your beliefs become your thoughts.
Your thoughts become your words.
Your words become your actions.
Your actions become your habits.
Your habits become your values.
Your values become your destiny.”

M.K. Gandhi