Life is a Game – Make Sure You Win
You have to learn the rules of the game.
And then you have to play better than anyone else.
Albert Einstein
Life is a game. When enemies come against you, it is nothing more than a chess match to see who will make the shrewdest moves and come out on top. But, as with any game, before you can win, you have to know how the game is played. You have to understand your options and how your enemy thinks.
Once you understand the way the game is played, then it is up to you to play better than anyone else. And, just like the chess match, you have to play several moves ahead. You have to not only know what your next move is, but you have to be smart enough to figure out your opponent’s next move, and your counter to it, as well.
This can get complex, but it is always rewarding when you know that your opponent or your enemy came against you with the intention of defeating you, and you used your indomitable spirit, your knowledge and wisdom, and your well-thought-out strategies to walk away from the game victoriously.
Knowing, or being able to predict, your opponent’s next move is vital to your victory. The master of the game will not only know what his opponent’s next move will be, but he will actually control his next move by his actions.
He will put his enemy in a situation where he basically only has one or two logical moves, or at least it appears that way to him. By being able to control the game in such a way, you control your opponent and lead him wherever you want him to go.
Once you have the momentum, and if you have planned your strategy well, you not only will be able to control your opponent, but the game as well. And if you are able to control the game, you will be able to walk away with the victory.
At that point, the only thing that will stop you is poor planning. Your strategy must be well-planned and well-thought-out. If you depend on luck, you’re in trouble. Never depend on luck, although you should welcome luck when it is in your favor.
Sun Tzu taught, “Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant of both your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.” Don’t depend on luck; do your homework. Know who your enemy is and how he thinks. Put yourself in his shoes and ask yourself, “What would I do if I were him right now?”
Foresight and respect, for what your enemy is capable of, are vital to your victory. Never underestimate your enemy. You cannot merely make your move and then wait to see how your enemy counters. You have to develop the ability to accurately predict his next move, and be ready to counter it immediately. You can only do this if you learn to develop insight into how your enemy thinks. As Sun Tzu taught, “What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.” The same applies to the game of life.
On the other hand, your enemy will be trying to disrupt your strategy as well. Don’t let him! Keep your intentions and your strategies well-hidden. If your opponent doesn’t know how or when you will attack him, he will be more stressed, as he will have to prepare for dozens of possibilities. And the more stressed he gets, the angrier will he becomes. When he gets stressed and angry, you will be in a better position, as he will be prone to making mistakes.
Attack when he is not prepared. Attack when he least expects you to hit him. Use misdirection to confuse and baffle your opponent. Learn to play the game, and play it well.
Instead of becoming angry and stressed the next time some opponent tries to out maneuver you in the game of life, try seeing it as a game – a game that you plan on winning. Treating these situations like a game to be won, will give you a whole different perspective on things – no more anger, no more stress, just sheer determination to come out on top. Warrior on!
