Life as a Video Game

What if life were just like a video game?  Think about it...

In a video game, depending on the type of game, there is generally some sort of common set up which is the concept of "levels".  Lets speak on behalf of video games for a second and if you have never played a video game, allow me to explain a little more in detail.

Generally speaking, in a video game, there are levels.  You start out at some point, lets call that point, A and the goal is to get to point B.  Now, in order to get to point A, you go through different parts of conflict and success.  You learn new skills and acquire new knowledge and experience, sometimes you even collect tools to help you get closer to point B.  After your journey from point A to point B, you are now faced with a possible and probable dilemma which in the video game world is known as "THE BOSS LEVEL".  Once you reach the "boss level" you are equipped with the proper knowledge and skills to beat the boss level and then move to the next level which is from point B to point C.

Let us take a moment to revisit this sequence of events.  Now, in life, just like in this metaphorical video game, we journey from one point to another and throughout this journey we learn all sorts of skills and more so gain experience to overcome the "boss level".  The "boss level" in reference to our reality can be seen as the moments of adversity or rather moments where we are faced with some direct conflict that in order to move to the next level, we must overcome or "beat" for the sake of video game lingo.  Now.. sometimes, if not most of the time when these "boss level" moments appear in our lives we do one of two things which is an innate response to conflict.. FIGHT OR FLIGHT.  We either rise up to the conflict and FIGHT or more properly overcome it or we FLIGHT aka run away or don't face it.  Both have certain outcomes, obviously.  When we FIGHT the boss, we win, we succeed, we learn, we transcend, we gain more experience! and when we FLIGHT or run away, we do not transcend or move to the next level and instead, we go back to the previous journey and learn/gain even more in order to beat the first "boss level".  Keep in mind that when we retreat, we do not transcend to the next level of consciousness.  Maybe we aren't as prepared as we could be?  Maybe the journey we took to point B we skipped a few major learning moments and cheated ourselves out of valuable lessons that we could've used on the "boss level".  This is where the journey from point A to point B is of the upmost importance and more to what we need to learn.  We must carry awareness with us throughout this journey to acquire the proper skills and knowledge to beat the "boss level".

Now that we have an understanding of life put in the context of a metaphorical video game, get out there and learn what you need to learn!  Do what you have to do!  Sacrifice what you must!  And remember, when life seems to be at its hardest moment, you have reached the end of your level; use what you have learned and trust in your ability.  We will never know what we are capable of doing until we choose to FIGHT instead of FLIGHT.  There are two main options in every circumstance, accept and embrace where you are and what you feel, or run away and allow fear to turn you away from transcendence.  If you fail, guess what?  You have learned.  In every moment of failure, we have learned what does not work and we can continue to refine ourselves and see what is working for us.  Life is difficult at times but remember, they are just that...times, moments, impermanent experiences.

Be courageous and allow the fear or not knowing be the driving force into making the unknown, known.

"Do not go gentle into that good night."

Namaste - J