Comparing yourself to others kills your progress and happiness. We create an internal competition that leads to nothing good.
The fable of the hare and the tortoise is about competition.
But let’s go back to how the story was originally told.
The Hare and the Tortoise - BBC Teach
In the original story, the hare challenges the tortoise to a race. The hare thought it would easily beat the tortoise. And it would have, had it not gone off to take a nap while the tortoise slowly and steadily plodded forward and, as we all know, won the race. (sorry, spoilers!)
If we go back to the time it was written, we see a tortoise who knew who they were. They accepted the race, knowing they were slow but steady and determined.
The hare is the fast and flashy one, the person who loves to talk about their achievements but if you scratch the surface just a little … well, you don’t find much.
The hare thought he could beat the tortoise and would have had he focused on the task at hand.
Fast Forward to 2023
There are two styles depicted: One is fast and flashy, the other slow and steady.
Fast and Flashy
Could this be this is Instagram crowd? Where “Instagram” is the metaphor of a person on their best, or photoshopped, day?
It looks amazing but it’s not reality. It is a “happy fiction”. (Gladiator)
And, as a happy fiction, it is not harmful. Most accept it is “Instagram” and understand the gap between it and true reality. (read to the end for the original Instagram story!)
But the problems start when there is an underlying longing to be “like them”. They sound smart, look smart, even their pets look smart! (How cool are pets? 🐶)
This is where 2023 differs from the original story … where the tortoise went about his business as a tortoise! (quelle surprise!).
We can become dissatisfied with our lives based on the “lives” we see on social media. This “happy fiction”.
And so, we look to be like them, or our version of “them”. But we don’t know “them”.
It is a pointless crusade.
Slow and Steady
The tortoise, on the other hand, is slow and steady. They block out the noise, focusing on what they are purposed to do.
Even if they come “second” to others, they understand and accept themselves for who they are. Who is keeping score, really?
Four Lessons from the Hare
Don't Talk, Do! — The hare was all talk. Sure, they could have won. Had they focused on the task at hand. Had they had the discipline to go all the way. But they didn't.
If Only — After the race was lost, they can talk about all the possibilities and “if onlys”. But there was a race, and they didn’t do what they said they would, even though they had the skills.
No Napping While in the Race — We hear how sleep is good for us and that is true. But not on the job. No napping!
Life IS fair! — Reading the story, you'll read these words from the hare at the end: “Not fair,’ said the Hare. ‘I was asleep. We have to run the race again. It’s not fair.’ We need to be awake and in the race in to win! There are no do-overs in life!
“The trouble is, you think you have time.” — Jack Kornfield
Four Lessons from the Tortoise
Know who you are — be true to yourself and ignore the fast and flashy. There are no get rich quick schemes … expect for the person selling you the get rich quick scheme!
Remain focused — ignore distractions. There is a lot of “noise” out there. Compete, as the tortoise did, but be true to yourself and ignore those who promote that you are not up to the task.
Avoid the Toxic — there are people whose sole aim is to feel better about themselves, by trying to make others feel small. Avoid them.
Compare yourself … to your goals — that is all that matters. What is your goal? What route do you need to take to get there? How well are you tracking?
No One Is the Enemy
We learn from those who are different to us. Even the fast and flashy. They do have skills. The hare had the skills to beat the tortoise. What can we learn from that?
We are all who we are!
We might look at the fast and flashy and feel duped by them. We become sceptical of their achievements because they seem too good to be true, thus we don’t learn from them. Or we feel inferior to them because of all the cool things they are doing that we don’t seem to be able to do. And it slows our own progress. (Look out for the article next week on the 10,000 Hours Rule)
Maybe we even begin to ignore or despise them.
But that is pointless.
We don't know their whole story. It may well be in context with their world and their experience. We are the product of our environments and upbringing, just as they are theirs.
A hare is a hare and a tortoise is a tortoise!
And what about the slow and steady? Do we look at them and are either bored by them, secretly wishing they would hurry up? Or maybe we may want to slow down, seem more in control, and better planned … as they seem to be.
The truth is, neither the hare nor the tortoise is the enemy. Each is playing to their strengths and being who they are.
And so…
Is slow and steady still the way to go?
Can you do both?
What have you done that has made you successful overall or in a specific arena?
How did you go about it?
The Original Instagram Story?
It may seem hard to believe, but The Book of Acts in the New Testament could be the original Instagram story.
Having sat in church for 20+ years, we heard constantly about all miracles from the early days of the church after Jesus’ crucifixion.
But to look at it another way, not to decry what might have happened according to the scholars, there are 29 miracles in the Book of Acts, based on the linked site.
Scholars also calculate the period The Book of Acts covers is around 30 years.
My experience in church was that miracles should be the norm. Without this you lacked faith. I know this isn’t the same in every church. But this rhetoric can breed feelings of inferiority, lacking in some way while looking up toothers who likely are struggling themselves. Another happy fiction (maybe not so happy).
To continue the Instagram metaphor, based on 29 recorded miracles in 30 years, you’d be getting a flurry of Instagram stories once a year (averaged). I mean, they’d be remarkable stories, but it’s an average of one a year.
Hardly a platform to build a passive income! 😁
Finally …
Some questions for you … to help me. Throw your answers in the comments.
Did you enjoy this story?
Did you gain anything from this story?
Care to share?
Thank you for reading!