Win The Game of Life
These games or The Game
Life is an umbrella of infinite mini-games: inputs and outputs.
“Do this to get that. Do that to get this.”
- If you want to lose some weight, you play the fitness game.
- If want to be an investor, you play the investing game.
- If you want to find a life partner, you play the dating game.
- If you want to feel important, you play the status game.
Applied inputs for desired outputs.
Everything in Life is a game. As the saying goes, “You win some, you lose some.”
So the question arises…how do you win more games?
I. Know What Game You’re Playing
To win a game, you need to know you’re playing one.
When approaching anything, ask yourself these questions…
- What is the end goal of this particular game?
- Do I know the rules of this game?
- Is this input allowed in this game?
- Will this input benefit or hurt my desired outcome?
Become familiar with the environment of your game.
For example,
- In martial arts, am I familiar with my body?
- In finances, am I familiar with financial literacy?
- In building relationships, am I familiar with basic social interaction?
Learn the rules of the games. Better yet, know the foundations.
Once you know the foundations, you will never be lost.
The most effective way to know the foundations of your game (and this may sound anti-climactic) is to simply play the game:
Play the game, reflect on the outcomes, reiterate, repeat.
II. Whose Game Are You Playing?
In most games, there are opponents/competitors. The most lethal situation is to blindly play someone else’s game. Why?
Because their game is perpetually designed for you to lose.
In martial arts, the one who dictates the fight wins. The one who loses is the one who falls into the intended trap.
This applies to any form of confrontation and competition: debates, trials of skills, arguments, etc.
A simple example of this is when someone insults you.
If someone insults you, they initiated a game. Specifically, they initiated a game of Ego. They are trying to attack your ego or defend theirs.
In situations like this, ask yourself the following questions…
- “Whose game am I playing right now? Is it theirs?”
- “Can I beat them at their own game now that I see the game?”
- “Do I even want to play this game at all?”
Once you know whose game you’re playing, you have the powerful advantage of Awareness. Three options become available:
- Continue to play the game.
- Change the game.
- Leave the game entirely.
Know what game you’re playing and know whose game you’re playing. Awareness is the most powerful ally. With it at your side, you will be able to win more games and lose a bit less.
But is there is a way to never lose? Is there a way to win games every single time?…
III. Play The Ultimate Game
Remember how I said that Life is filled with infinite mini-games?
There is ONE game that if played, you win all the other ones.
This is The Ultimate Game, the only game worth playing.
This game is The Game of Honesty.
The Game of Honesty is a single-player game. It is no longer about the competition because there is no competition. There is no competition because there is no other.
The game is about you. The game is You. The game is no longer a game. The game is Art.
Art is not making something fancy and making a quick buck. Art is the total honest expression of oneself.
Playing The Game of Art and Honesty is not about “winning” the game. It is to go beyond the game.
It’s not about being at a high level, it’s about being in a completely different dimension.
It’s not about being 10 levels above the others because there is no “other.”
- Since there is no other, there are no levels.
- Since there are no levels, there is no ceiling.
- Since there is no ceiling, there is no limitation to your abilities.
You play the single-player game instead of the multiplayer game. This is how The Greats played.
The Greats did not compete. To compete implies being amongst the masses. The masses do not produce greatness. The masses produce mimicry. Mimicry is mediocrity.
The Greats were great, not because they dared to be above others. They were great because they dared to be themselves totally, completely, honestly.
The Greats did not choose to produce greatness. The Greats chose to relentlessly be themselves. In that, comes greatness.
Greatness is the by-product of complete self-expression. This is only done through Honesty.
Honesty is the ultimate game. It is the direct path to excel in everything.
Honesty in your relationships. Honesty in your work. Honesty to Yourself.
Honesty is a positive-sum game, you can never lose. The only things you lose through Honesty are the unessentials.
- Through Honesty, you lose false relationships and gain real ones.
- Through Honesty, you lose boredom and gain honest curiosity. (Incessant Curiosity is the path to excellence.)
- Through Honesty, you lose the lies you tell yourself. Only then can you live freely.
- Through Honesty, you lose the concept of regrets. A life without regret is worthy to be titled “Life.”
Honesty is the Game of Truth. When you play the Game of Truth, you do not need to chase winning. Winning chases you.
Be honest in what you think, say, and do. Never lie, never compete, never imitate.
Like Bruce Lee said,
“Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it. Always be yourself. (Honestly) Express yourself. Have faith in yourself.”
When you imitate, you become dishonest.
When you’re dishonest, you’re playing a losing game. When you’re honest, you win every game.
Thank you for reading my post! I sincerely appreciate your time. Feel free to agree or disagree with any of my opinions. Let me know your thoughts! I would love to learn and hear from you.
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Originally published at https://jacobacosta.substack.com.
