Chefs Hilda Baci and Dammy’s Cook-A-Thon: What, really, is an unhealthy competition?

The recent culinary show of Chef Dami has rebooted the discussion on unhealthy competition. It is needless to say that competition is deeply ingrained in human nature. From sports arenas to classrooms and workplaces, it drives us to push our limits, achieve greatness, and constantly strive for improvement.

The most pertinent question then is, what, really, is an unhealthy competition?

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Competition becomes unhealthy when it exemplifies an obsession with winning at all costs, the constant pressure to overperform others, and a disregard for ethical boundaries.

First of all, the constant pressure to outperform others is an unhealthy competition.

This can lead to severe stress, anxiety, and burnout. Instead of celebrating personal growth and learning from setbacks, the focus remains solely on winning, often at the expense of mental and emotional well-being.

The individuals then become caught in a grip to measure their worth solely based on how they stack up against others. Every one should compete, rightfully. But when every achievement or success becomes a mere stepping stone to outdo someone else, it may be unhealthy.

This toxic mindset fosters envy, resentment, and an unending cycle of dissatisfaction. Instead of celebrating individual strengths and accomplishments, the emphasis shifts to tearing down competitors, breeding a culture of negativity and hostility.

The truth is, it is difficult to draw the line here: For example, chef Hilda Baci competed to outperform chef Lata Tondon and when chef Dami is doing just the same, everyone thinks this is an unhealthy competition. Let’s move away from the seemingly unappealing food and low publicity chef Dami receives to assess what is unhealthy about her competition.

I think anyone is free to pursue success, and their ambition does not in any way stop others from progressing.

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However, constantly comparing oneself to others and feeling inadequate in the face of their success takes a toll on mental health. It perpetuates feelings of unworthiness, leading to self-doubt and a diminished sense of personal value. Rather than fostering healthy self-improvement, unhealthy competition breeds a toxic cycle of self-deprecation and insecurity.

But what I think is fundamentally wrong with chef Dami’s culinary show is her lack of foresight, enough planning and collaboration, or simply jumping on this herculean challenge, maybe for the sake of it. Calling her culinary show an unhealthy competition is where it becomes difficult to draw the line.

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If there is an important lesson to take away from this recent culinary show of chef Dami, it is that while everyone is free to compete, there is tremendous power in proper planning and preparation, strategic brand positioning, collaboration, and timing, well, timing (even though this is where most people think she gets it wrong) may not really matter.