“To win in the game of life you must be proactive about who you desire to become.”
—Nancy Salmeron
Have you heard the expression, “Life is a game and you have to learn to play it?” I have been reflecting on this expression lately. If life is a game and you must learn to play it, are you the protagonist? Is the journey the setting and the destination the prize? How do we win in life? I believe that we win in life by understanding that we are the protagonist or creator of our life. We win by knowing that we have a journey or mission to complete, but I don’t feel the destination is the prize. The destination is our target, but the prize is found in living our lives with dedication, passion, and purpose. I also believe that the players that win make up their own rules. The best players learn what the societal rules are but have no problem questioning or challenging those rules. The winners of the game of life are not influenced by others and are proactive about becoming who they want to be. In this game of life, your most important mission is to live with purpose and to help, rather than harm, others. Today, let’s talk about five key elements that will help you win in life.
Go deep within to discover who your protagonist should be.
Who do you need to become? Seek within to discover your true essence. In the game of life, you must discover what your vision for your life is. What dreams do you want to embark upon? Silence all the outside noise, and this will bring clarity to the protagonist you need to become. Be influenced by the voice of your soul and not the voices of others. In my experience, when I had the courage to listen and to trust the voice of my soul, I discovered who my protagonist should be. Have courage and trust.
Know the societal rules, but don’t be afraid to question and challenge them.
To win in life you must know what the societal rules are. You must also know how to challenge and influence changing world views that don’t resonate with your spirit. The rules put on us by society were once someone’s idea. If a rule is unjust, hurts, or takes away from your inner peace, fight for change. Be a change agent for what you believe is right; this may be part of your life’s mission. You may stand alone and stand proud. Some of the biggest change agents that have ever lived were not afraid to stand alone fighting for a cause worthy of their values and ideals. I had the honor of meeting Dolores Huerta a few weeks ago and see her as a winner in the game of life. Dolores is an American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm workers Association with Cesar Chavez. Chavez and Huerta challenged the working conditions, use of child labor, and low wages of migrant farm workers. This was their cause, their mission. What is yours?
Be mindful of what your protagonist thinks, says, or does.
“Watch your thoughts, words, and actions,” I remind my audiences when I speak. I understand positivity has become a cliché, yet it is essential to always use positivity as your armor when playing the game of life. Remember, everything bad that happens to you will always have a solution, but the solution is more visible when you put your optimistic glasses on. Stay positive and enjoy your journey. Give your undivided attention to your blessings, rather than to your hardships. Let positivity be the light in your darkest days.
Enjoy the game and relax.
Oh, be gentle with yourself. Don’t take things so seriously. Pursue your life dreams and goals, but don’t lose sight of the present moment. Laugh at your mistakes but learn from them. Remind yourself that in the end what matters is that you fully enjoyed and loved this game. Mark my words—all the money, titles, and material things mean nothing if you don’t love the life that you create.
Implement love, respect, and empathy when playing with others.
In the game of life, we all want to win. Everyone is doing the best that they can. Be loving, respectful, and empathetic to the other players. Let love be your compass. Do everything with love, respect, and empathy. Learn to see other people’s pain through their eyes. Remember, for some individuals the game of life has been a confusing and challenging experience. When possible, be an individual that helps others persevere in this game. Be sunshine for those that have only experienced the cold.
The trick to winning the game of life is to choose the role your protagonist wants to play. You win by being the creator of your life, not by following the herd. Decide what values hold true for yourself and have a vision of who you want to be. Life is more complicated for those who do not decide to use positivity as their armor. Follow societal rules, but don’t be afraid to question or challenge them. Enjoy this game of life by deciding that you will be proactive and not reactive to unforeseen, tricky events life throws at you. Treat everyone you encounter with love, respect, and empathy. Relax and enjoy the game!
Until next time, Believe. Change. Become.
Sending blessings and love your way!
Nancy😊