Tip: Life is a game.

Most of us learned to play games when we were children. I remember learning how to play a game called Clue. There were three objects to the game: first, to discover who committed the crime; next, to guess in which room the crime was committed; and finally, determine which instrument was used to commit the crime. I was given a little check sheet and through deductive reasoning, I narrowed down my choices until I thought I had finally guessed the three correct answers by using the “clues” I learned throughout the game. I remember how much I enjoyed it and, yes, I still play Clue to this very day. I also recall learning how to play Monopoly as well. It was a little more complicated and lasted much longer but it was still a lot of fun.

There is also board game by the name of Life and while that game is fun too, I believe we are all involved in a different kind of game called “life.” The more we learn how to play it, the more we will succeed at our daily endeavors. The less we know how life works, the more we are going to suffer for it. I really believe there are four areas that we must focus on in order to have a successful life. Let’s take a brief look at each of the four.

• Our physical life – When we eat right and get the proper rest and exercise, our body will respond more efficiently. When I was growing up someone told me, “If you eat fat, greasy foods, you will become a fat, greasy dude!” That made sense to me so I keep my “fat, greasy foods” to a bare minimum. I do not think we should be obsessed with good health, but neither do I think we should be careless in our habits. After all, the body that we now live in is the only one we are going to get. The more we feed it correctly, exercise it and rest it, the better it will respond to our daily needs. I am still on this journey with you! And it is often challenging!

 

• Our finances – The more we understand how money works, the better money will work for us. If we make wise investments, practice delayed gratification and save for a “rainy day”, the more prepared we will be when the unexpected circumstances of life arise. If we do not understand the principles of money, we will surely suffer for it. Money is a great indicator of how self-controlled and self-disciplined we are. There is hardly a day that goes by that is not affected by every financial decision we make. The more we understand how money works the more we will be rewarded for taking the time to correctly play the “game” involving finances in our life. Money isn’t everything, but it is pretty close to oxygen!

 

• Our relationships – It is so true that relationships are what life is all about. Understanding personality types and how other people feel, think and act will positively affect our relationships. The more we speak words of life and encouragement into others, the better our relationships will be. If we speak negative words and criticize other people then our relationships will suffer. That is a fundamental rule in the game of life. When we understand how to play that game, the better our relationships will be whether that is in our family or business life.

 

• Our spiritual life – What each person believes spiritually is their personal choice. However, because I believe that I will be dead much longer than I will be alive, I have taken the necessary time, effort and energy to study this carefully in order to be at peace with my future and with my spiritual beliefs. In my estimation, how I play this aspect of the game and where I place my faith is important and will have long-term ramifications. I have said it before but think it bears repeating, eternity is the wrong thing to be wrong about.

Let me encourage you to take a good, close look at how you are playing the game of life in each of these four areas. You may be doing well in one or two of them but perhaps a couple of the other areas could use some attention. If you understand how to play the game, your reward will be greater. The older I get, the more I see that the people who are successful in any area of life are successful for one reason, namely, they have followed the principles in that specific area and have been rewarded for it.

If you believe you need to grow in a particular area, why not read a good book on that same subject? Or, why not talk to someone you respect who is older and wiser than you and who has some personal experience in your particular area of interest? In other words, you may not be fully aware of how to play life’s game in a particular area, but you can learn! Mentors and life coaches are wonderful helpers if you can find a good one.

The beautiful thing is that all of us can learn and grow in these four areas of life in order to become all that we were meant to be and to experience all that life has for us. Taking a personal inventory of how you are doing in these four areas may be the wisest thing you have ever done. After all, in the end, it may be fun to win when playing the game Clue or Monopoly, but it is much more important and real to win in the game of life!

Tip: Life is a game.

Have a great week! God bless you!

Dr. Robert A. Rohm