the object of a competition

Let's say there's a competition.
You are definitely the subject of this competition, and your competitor the object.

There's one funny thing about this condition.

If the object of your competition is a 3rd party, there will be this negative aura radiating about you. Like you're being an over-ambitious, evil person with desires nothing less than to defeat others.. At least that's what other people might think of you.

But if the object is yourself, people's perceptions change. They go, "oh, he's trying to be a better person. That's really good, it means he never stops challenging and developing himself." Suddenly you have this positive, immaculate, white shiny-light-thingy kind of aura. You're immediately a nice person who tries hard, works hard, and deserves all the ambitions you want to show.

Weird.. But that's what my experiences tell me.