As with all things, I always think about what the Creator’s view is and in this matter on rivalry and competition some scriptural thoughts come to my mind.

Here is a couple of clipped pieces on the dangers of going beyond our God-given friendly playful streak into seeking glory and victory at the expense of another:

*** g92 3/8 p. 22 Part 5—Big Business Tightens Its Grip ***

Competition fosters feelings of envy, jealousy, and greed. People who excel may begin to think themselves superior, making them arrogant and overbearing. Consistent losers, on the other hand, may suffer from a lack of self-esteem, causing despondency. Faced with competitive pressures with which they cannot cope, they may choose to drop out, an attitude that helps explain the surge in suicides among young people in some countries.

Understandably, then, the wise counsel of the Bible is: “Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another.”—Galatians 5:26

(Ecclesiastes 4:4) . . .And I myself have seen all the hard work and all the proficiency in work, that it means the rivalry of one toward another; this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.

*** g95 12/8 p. 15 Is Competition in Sports Wrong? ***When Competition Goes Too Far

What, then, was the apostle Paul saying to fellow Christians when he told them not to be “stirring up competition with one another”? (Galatians 5:26)

The answer lies in the context. Paul prefaced this statement by telling them not to “become egotistical” or, as other Bible translations phrase it, not to become “proud,” “conceited,” “desirous of vain glory.”

The pursuit of fame and glory was prevalent among the athletes of Paul’s day.
So too in today’s vainglorious world, more and more athletes resort to strutting and calling attention to themselves and their skills. Some go so far as to demean others. Taunting, finger-pointing, and verbal degradation, or what some athletes call “trash talking,” are rapidly becoming the norm.

All of this would be “stirring up competition,” leading to what Paul referred to in the concluding part of Galatians 5:26—envy.

At its worst, unbalanced competition leads to fights and even death….

A Balanced View–
Recreational sports and games should be refreshing—not depressing.
This we can achieve by keeping things in perspective, remembering that our worth to God and our fellowman has nothing to do with our skills in sports or games.
It would be foolish to allow feelings of superiority to well up within us because of physical or mental abilities.
So let us avoid the unseemly, worldly tendency to call attention to ourselves, lest we provoke envy in others, for love does not brag. (1 Corinthians 13:4; 1 Peter 2:1)

…We would never measure the worth of others by their abilities in sports and games.
Similarly, we would not want to think any less of ourselves because of lack of skill.

…we should remember how insignificant any game really is—people’s true worth does not depend on how well they perform. …

…Paul noted that “bodily training is beneficial for a little; but godly devotion is beneficial for all things.”—1 Timothy 4:8.

So in their proper place, sports and games are enjoyable and refreshing.

The Bible condemns, not all competition, but competition that stirs up vanity, rivalry, greed, envy, or violence.

I wholeheartedly agree she must have been under extreme pressure for which she wasn’t prepared. For many people, the thought of going on one of these shows and being even semi-successful is like a fantasy come true, but we don’t often stop to think about the negative consequences, and I believe that’s the point Dr. Thompson was trying to make.

It’s great that Susan got the help and rest she needed, and hopefully she’s as prepared as she can be to take the music industry by storm.