Life as a Game.

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Life as a Game
! July, 2006 " 7 Comments

We all use metaphors in our methods of

describing and evaluating life. Life is such an
abstract and all-encompassing concept that
people use analogies to similar systems in order
to draw relationships and comparisons.
Metaphors and analogies are our ways of
breaking down abstract concepts. Anecdotes
and metaphors are humans primary method of
understanding.

Consider understanding complex systems in

physics. Einstein proposed that space and time
form an intricate four dimensional platform he
called spacetime. Unfortunately picturing four
dimensional surfaces is beyond our ability, so in
order to picture this concept scientists used a
metaphor of a fabric. Viewing space as being a
two dimensional fabric it was easier to picture
how objects could stretch or depress this fabric
in three dimensions. The metaphor of fabric to
represent space allows us to understand it.

We all use metaphors in a similar way when

describing systems in life. One of my major
motivations for creating an interactive goal-
setting program was to have the program serve
as a metaphor for the goal setting process. By
making abstract concepts like goals and
deadlines tangible, it is easier to draw
relationships to them. Using a metaphor makes
it easier to understand the system you are
discussing.

Of all the systems we use metaphors for, our

metaphors for life itself are probably the most
critical. How you view life is crucial to your
ability to function within it. Everybody has
metaphors for how they view life, and these
metaphors determine how they behave and
feel. Some people view life as a war, a constant
battle where you have to fight to survive. Other
people view life as a mission with a specific
purpose of which your experience is only a
vessel. Some people view life as a gift, a
precious resource never to be squandered.

I have used various metaphors for describing

life, but there is one metaphor that I find
particularly useful. This metaphor is in viewing
life as a game. Although a metaphor can never
be a perfect representation of the concept, for
example viewing spacetime as a fabric may lead
one to believe it is made up of a substance or
matter. Similarly, viewing life as a game has
some pitfalls, which I will discuss, but I use it
often because it has really helped me operate
successfully.

Challenges
How often do you here someone gripe about
how they could only be happy if they didnt
have all these problems. These are the same
people that complain and excuse about how
they cant succeed or feel any satisfaction
because of a whole host of external
circumstances. Other people take a slightly
more positive view and see challenges and
obstacles as simply being deterrents to an
otherwise happy life.

When you view life as a game, however,

challenges and problems take a whole new
context. The only reason you play a game is to
feel some sense of challenge, some sense of
struggle. The only reason a game is fun is
because it causes you to engage yourself in it.
Whether this be poker, Scrabble or a video
game, games are only fun when they challenge
you. Remove all the challenges in a game and it
becomes a pointless activity.

Adopt a new attitude. Challenges and problems

arent deterrents to living a happy and fulfilled
life, they are the cause of them. Dont complain
about how difficult or impossible your
challenges are. Bask in the realization that these
challenges are the entire reason you are playing
the game of life. Without these challenges life
would be a dull, pointless activity. Zig Ziglar
put it best, Happiness is not pleasure.
Happiness is victory.

With this metaphor in hand does this mean I

never get stressed or frustrated and irritated
with the problems I have? Of course, because
that is just the kind of person I am Hardly.
Just as in a very difficult game, some problems
will make you frustrated, stressed and
bothered. But at these times you can come back
to your metaphor of challenges and problems
as being the reason life is fulfilling and joyful.
By coming back to viewing life as a game, it is
easier to not let temporary frustrations become
depressing and overwhelming problems.

By adopting this view of life you will also take a

completely different approach to how you
handle problems and challenges. Instead of
trying to avoid them entirely, you will push
yourself to encounter them. This doesnt mean
you have to unnecessarily create problems, but
that you will not avoid opportunities simply
because they might possess them. If you are
afraid of public speaking, that isnt a limitation,
it is an incredible opportunity. If you are
overweight and unhealthy this also represents
an amazing opportunity to overcome
challenges. Taking on your own business and
leaving a job you hate may have problems but
those problems will ultimately give you a great
sense of victory and accomplishment.

What I am really trying to say is that growth is

what you are really after. By viewing the game
of life as a wonderful and challenging
experience you will understand that fun,
happiness and fulfillment only come when you
are growing, improving and expanding. Dont
run away from challenges, absorb your
challenges and make them a part of you. Be
grateful that life has given you these
experiences to make life worth living.

Rules
Another simile that can be used when drawing
analogies to a game is that all games are based
on rules. Life is also based on rules. Do most
people act as if life is based off a series of logical
and common sense rules? No, most people act
as if life guided by fate and a capricious
storyteller who has set artificial barriers to their
success. Worse many people act as if these rules
could not be discovered or made evident in
their life. They act as if life were completely out
of their control, guided by forces they could
neither comprehend, nor deal with.

Life operates from a series of logical rules. By

understanding these basic rules that guide our
life we can utilize them to achieve anything we
want. Some of these rules are pretty obvious,
while others require more uncovering. By
spending time studying and recognizing the
rules of the game in life we can become
excellent at it. Being rational in our study of life
can allow us to fully understand the rules of life
without injecting into it all of our negative or
overly hopeful biases.

One of the key rules to life is the law of cause

and effect. For every effect there is a
determinable cause. By understanding this
force that operates throughout the universe we
can utilize it to our advantage. Instead of saying
that luck and circumstance are guiding our life,
we can take a look at what is causing our
current experience of life and change it.
Without understanding the rules of the game,
it is impossible to be successful at it.

Many people when they find a law about the

universe they dont like they either pretend it is
not there or curse the universe for containing
it. Unfortunately, this methodology always
comes back to get you. By ignoring the laws of
the life and the universe you are unable to act
effectively in it. Similarly, by understanding the
underlying mechanics of the game you can
master it.

Focus on the Journey

If there is one important lesson that describing
life as a game can provide, it is to focus on the
journey and not the destination. Why do we
play games? So we can have entertainment,
challenge ourselves or spend time with friends.
In essence, it is the experience of playing we are
after, never the product of playing the game. I
believe very strongly in living in the current
moment, of experiencing life now.
Some people take the view that the point of a
game is to win. In this case I strongly disagree,
and I use it to serve my point here. The point
of a game is never to win, but only to gain the
experiences you would have after winning.
Although I feel this is an important experience,
the best games I have ever played were when I
was deeply absorbed in playing and winning or
losing was merely a direction, never the
purpose.

People take similar stances to life. You see

people who work really hard and put their nose
to the grindstone to become successful. All the
while these people point out that they are
working hard to become successful so they can
be happy later. By investing all their thoughts
into an imaginary future they are distancing
themselves with reality. The past and the future
only exist so much as you focus on them. The
notion of past and future is completely alien to
the physical universe. As physicists continually
point out, there is no physical marker on the
universe that shows time is flowing. Focusing
on the future and past in excess deprives your
ability to live fully.

Does this mean that we should quit our jobs,

start participating in dangerous sex, take a
bunch of hallucinogenic drugs and go skydiving
without a parachute. I disagree with this
philosophy either. Although we should live for
the moment, we must establish a positive and
supporting purpose that guides our actions to
focus on growth, not just instant gratification.

Again this is where I feel viewing life as a game

has benefits. Every game has an overarching
purpose. For poker it is to win all the chips. For
a crossword puzzle it is to fill in the answer to
every clue. For chess it is to put the opponents
king in checkmate. This purpose directs your
actions so you dont do foolish things simply
for the experience. By having a stronger sense
of purpose for your own life you can ensure
that the actions you have will be beneficial and
supportive, but still focus on the journey of life.
This journey may involve pain and sacrifice,
but so long as your remember that challenges
make life worth living, and those challenges
contribute to your purpose, the journey will be
worthwhile.

Fallacies of a Game
Metaphor
Ive pointed out three strong benefits to
viewing life as a game, but this certainly isnt
the only metaphor you could use and it does
have limitations. By exposing the limitations in
your metaphors you can ensure that you are
flexible in their usage. A few limitations of a
game metaphor are:

Life is Frivolous Some people draw the

connection that games are frivolous so they
would view a life as a game metaphor as being
disrespectful to the immense importance of life.
I agree with this fallacy and I believe life is
immensely important. I do, however, feel that
this also can be used to point out that life
should be about joy and fun as much as it is
about purpose.

Life is Win or Lose Because games generally

have win or lose conditions, I also find this
connection to be inaccurate. Life doesnt win or
lose. Some newer games are being based less on
this black and white principle, so I believe that
they could serve as better metaphors. In order
to win or lose you must examine something
outside of its context. Speculating on whether
you will be able to weigh your life as a win or
loss after you have died is a waste of your
energies here on earth. Focus on doing your
best, but understand that there are no black and
white qualifiers for our experiences here.

The metaphors we use to describe life will

decide how we behave and feel within it.
Viewing life as a game can be incredibly freeing
in seeing all our obstacles and problems as
adding to the experience. By understanding
that the game of life operates from a common
sense set of rules we can understand these rules
then utilize them to our effectiveness. Finally,
by understanding that the game of life is about
experiencing the journey with a purpose we
can be successful and happy. Viewing life as a
game isnt without its fallacies, but you may
want to try this perspective to see if it improves
your own quality of experience.

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