Being single has its up and its downs.  I’m not really sure which one of those there are more of, but competition between single friends falls somewhere in the middle.  In any relationship, whether it’s a platonic one such as friendship, a familial one or a sexual one, there is always bound to be competition of some kind.  But does this competitive spirit help us or hinder us in the long run?

Competition Can Go Overboard

Single friends can take competition way too far!  If you’re not careful, competition between buddies can mean the end of a friendship.  And that’s putting it lightly.  Not only can you wreck a friendship that you’ve cared for and nurtured for a long time, but you can develop bad habits that you may bring into your future interactions in the dating world.

If you and your single friend are both going for the same guy or girl, then you’ve found yourself in the worst kind of competition.  This kind of competition between friends can never end well.  Inevitably only one person can be chosen and that will create bitterness, anger and jealousy. 

If you and a single friend are both into the same person, you have to talk it out: just between the two of you.  Sit down and have a heart to heart.  One of you is going to have to decide that this crush isn’t worth it if you want to save your friendship and avoid a competition that can only have one winner.

How Competition Can Help You

It’s not all bad news.  In fact, competition is good for all relationships.  You may have noticed that most human beings tend to be fairly lazy.  We like things to settle down.  We like the world to remain as stable and unchanging as possible.  It’s comfortable.

If we didn’t have competition between singles to help us out, no one would ever find themselves coupled up.  Not ever again.  Of course, I’m being a little flippant, but I hope to show you why a competitive spirit with your single friends is healthy and can be a ton of fun.

Don’t compete against your friends, compete with your friends:  think of it like a relay, not a race.  Help each other get motivated and make changes.  While you might not feel like going out and getting your dance moves on, your friends can help fire you up for a night on the town.  If all your friends are getting into the best shape of their lives, dropping pounds or tightening up their abs and inner thighs, having a friendly competition can help you make some changes in your life.