“Playing the Game”
When my Grandson, Draven (age 6 at the time of this writing), and I play a version of “Monopoly” he is no longer surprised what happens when he lands on one of the properties I own. He began buying as many properties as possible each time we play the game. He understands what it takes to win the game of Monopoly. That is, making wise decisions that will become profitable.
There seem to be segments of society who are “surprised” when certain events happen because they don’t see the patterns that precede certain events. They panic when, what seems, sudden events appear when they didn’t expect them to happen.
Author and Investor Sa'd Ishtayeh said, “When you understand the game, you don't panic.” These words echoed what I have believed for some time. When people study what is going on around them it is pretty easy to see what might happen in the future.
“Herd Behavior” seems to be the “norm” for many people. Herd behavior is when a group of people or animals act together without a central leader, often making decisions they wouldn't make on their own. The term comes from the way animals in herds, like wildebeests, move together as a unit to escape predators. Fear is a powerful motivator.
Those practicing “herd behavior” assume, many times, that those around them must know what they are doing so they believe them and follow them without question. The tendency to want to “fit in” cancels out reason and logic.
When people invest time in paying attention to their society, and culture, patterns appear that can be leveraged. Recognizing patterns can be learned and that translates into wisdom.
If you choose to dissect certain information, and events, you see patterns that are overlooked by most people because they are not looking for them. For the wise, it’s like playing a game. They know what to look for in the world around them.
People, I have known, try to figure out a new board game without reading the rules of the game. They “wing-it,” while struggling through the game, and find themselves missing opportunities to score points and then frustration grows.
Again, Author and Investor Sa'd Ishtayeh said, “When you understand the game, you don't panic.”
I have seen countless numbers of people who, ignorantly, allow others to manipulate them because they have not invested the time to understand the “rules” of the “game of life.” This allows their emotions to be played-with-like-a-toy to the extent that seems foolish to the wise.
Once you choose to master how to understand the ways some people choose to interact with their society it is much easier to know how to navigate through society using wisdom instead of allowing the out-of-control emotions of those in society to confuse you.
When you learn to look at every relationship, piece of news, tribe, business and organization and dissect the patterns you begin to see through what is really happening. What you see is not always reality. What you hear is not always the truth.
Decades ago, Dad began to teach me the game of chess. He identified each piece on the chess board and how they could move during the game. He, also, shared some strategies and coached me on watching patterns in order to help me win the game of chess.
Author Robert Greene put it this way: “I was a little worried that young people would think the only game was being political and manipulative when really the bigger game is being so good at what you do that nobody can argue with your results.”
If you go through life thinking that every “game” is played the same way you will get hurt…in a big way. The ability to recognize patterns, in the game of life, can be life changing.
I Believe in YOU!
John W. Carver, LUTCF