Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

When someone's super-competitive when you're not even looking to compete against them, I think it's natural that that will have some rather negative effects on a person. It can lead you to doubt and feel self-conscious about things you may have never even thought about before. Things that probably aren't even an issue, but they're being turned into one. It doesn't leave much room for being yourself, because everything's about the other person and their views and their need to be competitive. Wouldn't surprise me if that competitiveness stems from insecurities as well, so now you've got two people who are insecure trapped in a rather unpleasant cycle.

For what it's worth, I think you're a great person. You're intelligent, kind, fun, creative, and you've got loads of talent. I know, though, that others can see all these things and say all these things, but if you're not feeling that way yourself, it doesn't really help...