Better and Improved

Come back when you truly know that frustration. Self-betterment means being better than yourself not other people. But even in a competition, everyone knows they are at a disadvantage in some way. Everyone knows Usain Bolt is the fastest runner in the world, but what about the guy finishing in 2nd or 3rd? Doesn't mean Usain was the only one running because everyone else quit. A shitload of no names ran more than you ever have in your life just to watch some dude get a medal. And those runner-ups are still running.

Now about self-improvement, real self-improvement involves bettering yourself, not your ego. Is your goal to be better than other people or than yourself? If it's the first, join a fucking competition so you can have the numbers to prove it instead of your own ego. If it's the second, then what's the big deal? The only other guy in the ring is you. The only one running on the track is you, not some dude whose ancestors ran their whole lives. Why are you feeling bad for someone else's accomplishments when you've been striving to beat yourself all this time?

The only time you ever lose against yourself is when you throw in the towel. shit's the hardest fight there is, man. Because it never stops. There is no bell ring, no finish line. It's only over when you die.