To begin, I have nothing against competition or competitive games, but I do see a great effect on the behaviors people exhibit daily. There is absolutely a good place for competition in life.
You may be wondering what is a zero sum game? Put simply a zero sum games is one where there is a winner and a loser. If there are more than two competitors, places become a thing, but there is still a winner and a loser.
Think about the games you play. How many of them fit this model?
Now think about the imaginative play of young children. How much of that fits this model?
Have you ever “raced” in traffic? Working hard to move forward one car or two. We strive to be the best, fastest, smartest, etc., but is it always necessary?
When working with a group of students recently, the ingrained nature of zero sum became clear. The team is divided into three groups and given a challenge. Instantly it becomes a competition. After a few rounds they realize that by working together, everyone “wins.” Never once do I use the word win, mention competition, or address them as individual teams. Even something as basic as snowshoeing becomes a race or some other type of competition.
In my work, I am trying to break this cycle. Can we begin to see the greater good of operating as whole instead of competing parts? Can the focus shift from a “me” viewpoint to a “we” viewpoint? Can we get back to cooperative play? Does changing thoughts change behaviors and lives? I hope so.
Sirius Fun 
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