Believe it or not, when I need to do some serious thinking, I very often sit down at my computer and start to play Backgammon. I think, at this point, I’ve played it so many times, that many of my moves are habitual and I can think about the issue that originally brought me to sit in that space and not so much how to win the game.
I have been doing this for longer than I care to admit. But during this time, I have also analyzed my opponents . . . .sometimes the computer, sometimes another person. And while observing the habits of another person, I have started to formulate some lessons that I find hold true to life.
So I offer you . . . .Some Thoughts to Ponder Regarding Life from Playing Backgammon . . .
- How often am I afraid to take a chance (make a move) because I think I know the outcome? Maybe I need to challenge myself a little more in life. Maybe I’m not Trusting the Process as often as I could and I need to allow myself to take more risks. Perhaps that element of surprise will open new doors for me that I never even imagined were possible.
- How often do I think I know how the other person will react? I know I have stopped myself from trying things or speaking up about something because I think I know what the reaction will be. Again, that element of surprise may just bring about some exciting changes if I just muster the courage to look beyond what I think to be the end result.
- How often do I “make a move”, eventhough it may not be worthwhile or in my best interest, just to prove my point (or my power) ? Sometimes I find myself just wanting to “send my opponent home” and I take a useless step because I can. In the long run, have I served myself or another person well? Usually, when the intention is to simply position myself in a state of higher power, I have not. That doesn’t mean I can’t work to do my best, but HOW I get there should always be a priority, while always keeping others in mind. Is it possible for every situation to be a “win-win” situation? What would life look like then?
- Sometimes the other person just wants to prove their power and make your life miserable . . . how do you handle that? So the flip side of lesson #3 and how do I handle being on the other side? Am I a pushover and let other people direct how my life goes? Do I remember that I am the sole person in charge of my feelings and how I handle any and all situations that arise in my life? Sometimes it is so easy to react in the heat of the moment . . .Do I maintain my self respect, while keeping others in my line of vision as well?
- People hate to lose and sometimes they will simply leave in an effort to avoid that happening. But have they won by leaving? So not everything goes our way . . . .have we learned something from that loss? Can we do better next time? How do we feel about ourselves when we give up?
All that from a simple game of Backgammon :). Do you have any thoughts from a simple task you often find yourself doing?
