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  • What if Life Were a Game?

    Life doesn't demand you win every game, but it does require you to understand which game you're playing. Every choice is a step leading to a different outcome.
    playing card and poker chips and dices
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    In fact, every day that passes, we’re playing a big game that no one asked if you wanted to play. But this life isn’t just full of “mandatory games”; there are also games you’re free to choose.

    • Games You Must Play

    These games have no turning back. You have to play, whether you like it or not.

    For example, you need a license to drive on the road. You need money to survive in the city. Or you have to smile even when you’re annoyed because… your boss requires it.

    It’s like breathing every day to live. No one likes “having to do,” but if you don’t – “game over.”

    • Games You Choose to Play

    These games are more exciting because you get to choose. Choose your friends. Choose your work. Or choose a hobby to pursue.

    But don’t think these games are easy. Choose the wrong friends, you suffer. Choose the wrong job, you struggle.

    Therefore, choosing a game doesn’t mean complete freedom, without risks. These games require you to take greater responsibility for yourself.

    • Games with Formulas

    These are games where predecessors have left clear paths. Like making a dish with a ready-made recipe: just follow the steps, amounts, and methods correctly.

    Want to graduate? Study enough lessons, pass the subjects, get the degree.

    Want to improve your health? Play sports, do the right techniques, be persistent, get stronger.

    These games are suitable for those who like rules and knowing the results in advance. As long as you comply, success is only a matter of time.

    Games with No Formulas (or Not Yet)

    These are different, like trying to cook a new dish without any instructions. The result could be a masterpiece or… exhaustion.

    For example, starting a business in a new industry that no one has done before. Doing creative art, where everyone has to find their own style.

    These games require you to be both creative and daring. You might win, but that win is hard to turn into a formula for others because everyone has different circumstances and ways of playing.

    Why You Need To Know These Things?

    …To optimize the games you’re playing.

    • If you like rules and stability, choose games with formulas. Work in places with clear structures, like government agencies or large corporations. Follow the process, and you’ll rise slowly but surely.
    • If you like creativity and breaking the mold, find games with no formulas. Work in startups, creative fields, or start your own projects. Playing this way is risky, but if you win, the feeling is much better.

    There’s no right or wrong in the game of life, only what fits or doesn’t fit. If you like stability but force yourself into a creative environment, you’ll feel overwhelmed. If you like freedom but are trapped in a framework, you’ll feel frustrated.

    So, choosing the right game to play means you’ve secured 70% of victory. Life doesn’t demand you win every game, but it does require you to understand which game you’re playing. Every choice is a step leading to a different outcome.

    Ask yourself: Is today’s game a must-play or a choose-to-play? Does it have a formula or not?

    And whatever the game, the most important thing is: Are you happy with the game?

  • Enriching Your Life on a Budget: The Power of Experiences

    “You don’t need a brush with death to grasp the value of life, nor do you need to endure hardship to understand the complexities of human nature…”

    people hiking on dunes on desert
    Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Pexels.com

    When young people (myself included) seek advice from their elders on this matter, the familiar refrain is:

    “Go out and experience more.”

    They proceed to recount tales of their travels, the fascinating individuals they’ve encountered, and the invaluable lessons gleaned from life’s trials. They often pause, offering a knowing smile (or perhaps not), seemingly content that they’ve imparted some wisdom to a younger soul.

    However, they often overlook a crucial point: every experience carries a cost.

    How can a young person from a family with a modest income realistically afford life-altering experiences abroad, especially in destinations demanding proof of substantial wealth?

    How can a student juggling both work and studies possibly find the time for experiences beyond the confines of their academic and professional obligations?

    How can someone facing health challenges even contemplate the experience of conquering a mountain?

    The more transformative the experiences that reshape our perspectives, the greater the investment required. Therefore, while the value of experiences is undeniable, they are not always accessible or attainable for all.

    The Key to Experiencing Life Without the High Cost

    …is reading books.

    While almost everyone is aware of this, the profound value it holds often goes unrealized. It’s akin to knowing agarwood exists in the forest, yet finding it demands personal effort and a stroke of luck.

    For a minimal cost, often just a few dollars, books provide the cheapest gateway to countless experiences. They are like doors to time travel and journeys across the cosmos, leading you to places beyond your wildest dreams.

    • Read fiction: Through fiction, you can live countless lives, ignite your imagination, and immerse yourself in fantastical worlds inhabited by a lightning-scarred wizard, fearsome fire-breathing dragons, far-flung civilizations light-years away, or even encounter the Little Prince on his tiny asteroid.
      • If you could dwell in such realms and raise a dragon, what name would you bestow upon it?
    • Read autobiographies/biographies: Delve into autobiographies and biographies to learn that every extraordinary path is paved with either pain or the lessons learned from the mistakes of great minds. Given our limited lifespans, we simply don’t have enough time to make every mistake ourselves and glean wisdom from them.
      • If you knew the price of a particular error, would you still dare to commit it?
    • Read self-help books: Self-help books offer a wealth of skills, often refined by authors over a lifetime of experience. They can also provide the solace you may be searching for within yourself.
      • If you had the chance to offer guidance to your ten-year-old self, what book would you pen?
    • Read non-fiction books: Non-fiction books broaden your understanding of truth by presenting diverse perspectives and allowing you to explore historical events, scientific phenomena, and social analyses. It’s not merely about accumulating facts but about gaining a deeper comprehension of the world and your role within it.
      • If you truly understood the significance of critical thinking, what steps would you take to cultivate it?

    When you next have a moment to fill, why not reach for a book?

    photo of person reading book on beach
    Photo by anouar olh on Pexels.com

    You don’t need a brush with death to grasp the value of life, nor do you need to endure hardship to understand the complexities of human nature.

    Even if you’re fortunate enough to lead a relatively smooth life, books can prepare you for potential hardships or foster empathy for the challenges others face.

    If you’re burdened by unspoken pain, books can provide strength and solace from the wisdom of those who have navigated similar experiences.

    Reading books may not make you more valuable, but it’s the cheapest way to enrich your life with experiences.