Comparison

In chess people can easily be influenced by their competitors. If they are playing against a new player they may lower their skill level. This may be because they are just trying to be nice so as not to slaughter their opponent, or it could be something they do and not realize it. Both can be seen in circumstances in life, but the latter seems especially deceptive.
Sometimes we don't achieve our true potentially because of the fact that we are too easily effected by the people that are around us. We see what we want to be, but because those around us are not at that level we don't fully stretch out our wings and play how we know we should be playing. Playing easy is nice and helps those around us only for a little while. If we truly want to be better and want those around us to be better we need to spread our wings and show this world what we have to offer.