9 lessons transposed from gaming to real-life

When the virtual world and reality have common dimensions

I may not be a professional gamer, though I aspire to be. Nonetheless, I possess enough self-confidence to position myself in a higher league, based on my ability to extract valuable life lessons from the pleasure of playing.

Even though my personal development hasn’t necessarily entailed complete maturation (specifically referring to the notion of giving up video games), I have always enjoyed merging the virtual and real worlds, translating certain aspects from the virtual realm into reality.

For instance, I’ve often likened each transition into a new life stage as ascending to a new level, akin to an upgrade of certain facets of my personality.

As we delve into these nine life lessons, I’d like to begin with a reflection:

“Life is the greatest game you’ll ever play, and every level you reach, every challenge you overcome, is an opportunity to level up not just in the game but in your own journey.”

With this perspective in mind, let’s explore the nine lessons:

1. Don’t Let Others’ Frustrations Affect You

Unfortunately, some players take the game very seriously, elevating it to the level of their identity. These players tend to let their frustrations seep into their in-game behavior, often directing anger and toxicity at their teammates. It’s easy to get caught up in their negativity and start believing that their words define your skills and worth as a player.

In real life, this situation isn’t much different from dealing with overly critical or negative individuals. Just as you wouldn’t let someone’s harsh words define your self-worth outside of the game, it’s important not to let it affect your in-game performance. Remember, the opinions of others should not shape your perception of your abilities.

2. Don’t Always Strive to Be the Carrier

There’s a concept in the game, ‘to be a carry,’ which means being the one who ‘carries’ the game — the powerful player who can lead the team to victory. Being in the ‘carry’ role often boosts your ego, making you want to be in that role in every match.

However, it doesn’t always work out that way.

This is because there are bad games, and because of that, someone from the opposing team can become the carry and bring defeat to your team.

It can also happen that someone on your team becomes the carry.

In such cases, what’s needed is to let that person carry the game and bring victory. But that means you have to stop making mistakes and support the one who is the carry now.

In real life, we often encounter similar situations. We tend to be the ones who take care of everything, solve all problems, and always say yes, among other things. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

However, there are challenging periods in our lives, and the ability to be the ‘carry’ can suffer. At that moment, all you can do is let others be the carrier for you, while you focus on adopting the right attitude to enable them to do so.

3. Be Cautious When Riding High — Mistakes Can Cost You

Expanding upon the previous point, the role of a ‘carry’ in gaming comes with its vulnerability. While a carry can lead their team to victory, they also possess the potential to bring defeat.

How does this happen?

In the ecstasy of feeling invincible, you might believe that making mistakes is impossible because you’re too powerful, too ‘fed’. In games like League of Legends, which I predominantly play, it’s crucial to remember that it’s a team game.

Yet, the very pride associated with being a carry can lead to making certain plays or decisions that not only complicate the match but can also result in its loss.

In real life, we often find ourselves in similar situations.

There are moments when we believe we know it all and that we’re immune to making mistakes because, up to a certain point, we’ve managed to make things work. However, the truth is that everyone makes errors at some juncture, and at that moment, transitioning from a carry-on to a scapegoat is a stark possibility.

The key takeaway here is to remain grounded and recognize that even in moments of achievement, you are not infallible. It’s essential to stay cautious and adaptable, whether in gaming or the real world, to avoid the pitfalls of overconfidence.

4. Detach Yourself from Lost Matches

I’m prone to allowing past game outcomes to affect my mindset in the matches I play. Positive results from previous games put me in a good mood, boosting my self-confidence. However, a bad match, whether due to an unsuitable team or encountering frustrated players, can lead me into a negative state of mind. I start to feel like I’m only playing with bad players and that I won’t make any progress.

The key in such moments is to detach yourself from past matches since they have no bearing on future games. It’s all about adopting the right attitude and mindset.

You’ve surely heard the saying, “Don’t dwell on the past.” Unfortunately, we tend to make decisions and plan for the future, often influenced by past events.

What truly matters is what I do now and how I translate it into the future.

I must stop living in the past!

Let the past stay in the past!

5. Embrace Being Different

I often find myself in a situation where I diverge slightly from the game’s ‘meta’ or its established ‘standards,’ both in terms of gameplay style and choices I make, such as champion selection, roles, or in-game decisions. In such situations, there are always those who have something to say: “You’ll lose the game,” “Why are you playing like this,” and so on.

However, more often than not, my departure from the norm contributes to the team’s victory.

Here, I’ll keep it short and to the point.

By society’s standards, the same principle applies in real life. It’s not wrong to be different, as long as your intentions and your confidence in the desired outcome remain true.

Embracing your uniqueness can be a powerful asset both in gaming and real life. Innovation often springs from those who dare to break away from conventions and explore uncharted territory.

The courage to challenge norms can lead to fresh perspectives and unexpected triumphs. So, whether it’s in the gaming world or your everyday life, remember that being different is not a flaw but a strength, a wellspring of creativity and originality.

6. Focus on Your Objectives

By now, you’ve gathered that League of Legends is my go-to game. I’ve been playing it since the end of Season 5, and as of the time I’m writing this article, the game is in its 13th season.

One of the crucial aspects of the game revolves around objectives like neutral monsters and turrets. Claiming these objectives provides your team with buffs and gold, which are paramount for achieving a positive outcome.

However, not all players are aware of this or inclined to comprehend its significance. This is why I sometimes find myself in the position of being the sole team member focused on securing objectives.

Even if it means occasionally disregarding the requests or seemingly senseless plays of my teammates, prioritizing objectives is, in fact, one of the most essential aspects of the game.

It involves making calculated decisions on when and how to seize opportunities while keeping your team’s overall strategy in mind.

In reality, personal focus on objectives is pivotal when it comes to personal development and progress. It goes beyond just achieving in-game victories; it’s about setting clear goals for yourself and directing your efforts toward achieving them.

In the grand game of life, there will always be distractions and external pressures, akin to the demands of fellow players during a match.

However, to reach your aspirations, you must cultivate the ability to maintain your focus, remain resolute, and not allow the surrounding noise to deter you from your path to success.

Remember, success is often a result of unwavering determination and the ability to focus on your objectives amidst the chaos of life’s challenges.

7. Learn from Mistakes

League of Legends is a strategic game that involves making critical decisions. I consider the game’s outcome to be the sum of all these decisions, each carrying its weight in shaping the course of the game.

What I want to emphasize here is my continuous quest to scrutinize what went wrong, especially when the result turns out unfavorable.

This process is about learning from mistakes.

As humans, we’re all prone to making errors. Despite not having advanced years, I’ve made my fair share of blunders thus far.

Reflecting on those moments, I often find solace in the fact that I had the opportunity to learn from them.

In this context, Dale Carnegie’s book, “Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn,” fits like a glove.

It underscores the idea that progress and personal development result from your attitude and are often the consequences of the mistakes you’ve made if you are willing to learn from them.

When you actively seek to understand and take ownership of your errors, you pave the way for personal growth.

On the contrary, if you fail to recognize your mistakes, you’re likely to repeat them, hindering your path to achieving desired outcomes.

Remember, every stumble is an opportunity to advance.

8. Always Look for Self-Improvement

I can’t recall if playing League of Legends was initially just for fun and relaxation. What I do remember is spending countless hours watching YouTube videos, and I still do at times, all in pursuit of a better understanding of the game and striving for continuous improvement.

Being a competitive game, I have the desire to play at my best. It might sound like madness, but it’s significant to me, especially considering that some business ideas stem from this passion.

Life, in its way, is a competition.

However, the stakes are much higher.

It’s about the potential we have as individuals and our capacity for ongoing evolution and progress.

Your adversaries aren’t just a few players who might enter the game for some fun; your main adversary is yourself.

It’s about how you respond to life’s challenges and the chaos of this world.

Even though life sometimes seems like a game, it’s not. It only offers one “start game” and one “game over.”

It’s not like gaming where you can restart or begin a new game, hoping for a different outcome.

This is precisely why you must constantly seek personal development. In doing so, you’re not just leveling up your in-game character; you’re leveling up in the game of life.

You’re enhancing your abilities, understanding, and resilience, and you’re empowering yourself to face life’s challenges and uncertainties with confidence.

Also, understanding that, in life, the journey itself is the prize, and self-improvement is the key to unlocking its full potential, it’s a good way of thinking.

9. Take a Break Sometimes

Expanding on the previous point, personal development can be quite intriguing, but it can also be demanding and energy-intensive.

I’ve often found myself, driven by the desire for progress in the game, stuck in a trance of continuous negative results.

In such situations, pro gamers and YouTube videos recommend taking a break from the game and doing something else.

Personal development is a complex process, particularly when you aim for genuinely remarkable results.

There have been moments when my to-do lists, planning, and disciplinary mantras became burdensome. In those times, it’s crucial to learn how to take a break and unwind.

I don’t subscribe to the idea of pushing yourself to exhaustion and clenching your goals with a vice grip until you reach that breaking point.

That’s why it’s essential to take a break sometimes.

Conclusions:

Writing this article, I was genuinely surprised by how the initial ideas evolved. The parallels between games and real life are striking.

I’m not trying to excuse my madness and my guilty pleasure of playing, but games can indeed offer more than just entertainment.

And that is genuinely fascinating.

From not allowing others’ frustrations to affect you to embracing your uniqueness, and from learning from mistakes to taking well-deserved breaks, these lessons underscore the importance of personal growth, resilience, and adaptability.

Life is an ever-evolving game, and each challenge we encounter is an opportunity to level up not only in the game but also in our journey.

Ultimately, the key is to approach life with the mindset of a gamer, ready to face obstacles head-on, learn from defeats, and continuously strive for self-improvement.

Just as in a game, where the journey is often more rewarding than the destination, life is about the experiences, lessons, and personal growth we accumulate along the way.

So, as you embark on your journey, whether in the world of gaming or personal development, remember that life’s greatest rewards come from the determination to learn, adapt, and level up, one challenge at a time.

So, what do you think about this perspective of mine? I would appreciate some of your thoughts as this is my second article on Medium.

If you consider this, some claps would be encouraging for me. Also, a follow would be awesome.

Thank you for reaching the end! It means a lot to me!