Lessons Learned
Life Lessons Inspired by Squid Games on Netflix
We all know the impact of negativity and violence, spiking up the charts for the highest viewership and popularity of the latest Korean drama series on Netflix— Squid Games.
Watch the trailer below to learn more…
Here are a few life lessons I’ve marked down from the series,
Run your race at your own pace
The first game Red Light Green Light teaches us a valuable lesson about time. Time is constant, and life is a timeboxed affair. However, life is not a race against others, but yourself against time. Don’t waste your time & energy comparing who is ahead & behind you. Focus on being a better version of yourself every day.
Stretch your legs according to the coverlet
No matter how desperate you or your situation is, spending beyond your affordability has serious repercussions. The financial crisis usually leads to bigger and riskier problems that deteriorate your life. According to an old Swedish proverb, “He who buys what he does not need, steals from himself”. Seong Gi-Hun, player 456, who struggled to support his family financially and spent all his remainder on gambling, was deeply buried under heavy debts. Accordingly, the only way out was to put his life at stake for a tempting prize.
Betrayal always comes from trusted sources
As said by Kang Sae-Byeok in the series, “you don't trust people because they’re trustworthy, you trust them because you have nothing else to rely on”. In life, most of us are betrayed by the people we trust. When trust is low, communication becomes ineffective & slow. Always keep your guard up against the detractors who will hold you back. Ali, a man full of innocence & ignorance, was deceived to death by his trusted team member.
Observation & Experience brings wisdom
The glass bridge game taught us, that being last or left behind isn’t weakness nor failure, it's experience & learning. People ahead of Seong Gi-Hun faced the obstacles for the first time and were unprepared to tackle them. However, using the experiences of others as an inspiration to move ahead, he made progress slowly and steadily and arrived as a winner.
Diversity is a fact, Inclusion is an act
Strength lies in our differences, not similarities. During the tug of war, the teams chose players that comprised strong men. None wanted any women or old players in their team. The series dropped a subtle message on gender inequality and power. When everyone felt included and worked as a team, they won against a team full of strong men. Who do you think wins here, power or intelligence?
Adapt and Respond to Change
A good start is of no use without any good strategy, and a bad start does not always end up in failure. Remember, in the tug-of-war, the old man shared his wisdom with the team to set the strategy. As much as responding to change is important, it is also important to listen and think before you react and respond. Adapting strategy under the right leadership sets the team for success.
Mental health is a priority
One of the least spoken topics or perhaps a taboo that spiked up during the global pandemic was Mental Health. In the series, the rich old man created Squid Games to put humanity to the test and fill the void in his life. Walk away from people who are selfish and mean. Taking care of myself doesn't mean ME FIRST, it means ME TOO.
Life is too short to do things you don't love doing. So go ahead and play your squid games before it becomes the game of humanity.
Thank you for your investing your time to read my takeaways from Squid Games. Don’t forget to share your thoughts below…happy reading!
If you loved this article, how about sharing it with your friends and colleagues too? And if you would like to support me further, join Medium today. By using my referral link or buying me a Coffee, you support me in continuing to write & share on this platform.
Thank You for helping me pursue my writing passion!
