Recently, I discovered a new way to think about life: treat it like a video game. We all get to make one decision: what game we want to play and at what level. This correlates with ambition. However, the surprising truth is that the level you play at doesn’t necessarily correlate with happiness or fulfillment. A good life looks different for everyone. The real challenge is figuring out which game you want to play and at what level.
I’ve also moved away from the idea that we have much control over choosing the “best” game for ourselves. I believe this is something we’re born with—part of our DNA. Yet, as we grow up, external influences like societal expectations, family pressures, and the ideas we’re exposed to can cloud our natural inclinations. These distractions distance us from the game we’re meant to play. Much of adult life is about finding our way back to what we’ve always known deep down to be true. This journey of rediscovery often culminates in what we recognize as the mid-life crisis.
By reframing life’s purpose as rediscovering and embracing the game we’re naturally meant to play, everything becomes clearer. Once you recognize that your task is to nurture and pursue this calling, your thoughts, decisions, and actions will begin to align. But the benefits of viewing life as a game don’t stop there.
Seeing life as a game fundamentally shifts your perspective. It reduces the ego’s grip on you. After all, it’s just a game, isn’t it? This mindset gives you the courage to make tough decisions and approach life with a sense of ease. If one path doesn’t work out, it’s not the end—it’s just part of solving the puzzle. Failure becomes a natural, even necessary, part of growth. It’s how you level up. And as you move from one level to the next, you realize that what got you here won’t get you there. This realization relieves the pressure to be perfect and allows you to do better work—not for yourself, but for the game itself.
This perspective aligns with ancient wisdom traditions, which often teach similar lessons: detach from outcomes, be courageous, tame the ego, and follow your inner calling. When you treat life as a game, you embody these principles naturally. It’s worth asking yourself: what would change if you truly saw life this way? Likely, a lot.
And here’s the most liberating part: you can always change the game you’re playing. You have the privilege to decide what your life can be. So take advantage of it. Even if it doesn’t feel like it now, you have more power than you think.