Underdogs vs Favourites

I always want to be a favourite. Everyone does. However, I enjoy the performance ‘the most’ when I am the underdog in any contest. I enjoy each and every beat of the performance being an underdog and I am nervous laden with expectation each and every time when I am the favourite.

Is confidence the key here? Does it mean that underdogs are coated with sugary sweet word called as confidence and favourites are robbed of it? Or it is just that the free spirits with zero expectations makes you much lighter and hence you can make a better vertical flight.

Being an underdog means that you don’t have to bother about the post-performance consequences. A underdog already knows that failure doesn’t bring in disappointment to his supporters, who can be any one – friend, family or well-wishers. So and underdog is never bothered about disappointment or sullen faces after his failure. All he can see is “try harder next time”. And the best of the underdog is always set free to unleash its performance.

An underdog also in his hindsight always is able to look at the brighter side of things – The celebrations. Celebrations if he happen to out-perform the favourite. The magnitude and intensity of those celebrations in his fore-sight is infectious. Infection bringing out better performance. Optimism.

On the contrary, a favourite always has celebrations in his fore-sight. But the intensity of the celebration in his fore-sight doesn’t match that of the underdog. “It was always expected” is what the dull intensity shouts out loud. This robs the favourite of the essence of his victory.

Infact, more powerful and bothering is the disappointment in a favourite’s fore-sight. “It was not expected” overshadows “It was expected” and that is what we call as burdens of expectations. The best of the favourite struggles to free itself from the burden. Pessimism.

So what is better – being and underdog or a favourite? Infact I would like to reframe it and ask, in any contest what should you be looking at – Victory celebrations or defeat consolations?