A New Beginning, or a False Hope?


Monday.

January 1st.

Many people start new behavioral changes on dates of psychological beginnings, such as Mondays, or New Year's Day to help them power up the will they need to make the changes stick.Unfortunately, it usually doesn't help.(Why New Year's Resolutions Fail)

Change is hard, yet possible, for all of us. In my life, I have noticed quite a few things need to change, yet don't. I stick to the old standbys, select the one you like.

a) too busy to make change
b) life too chaotic- just have to wait until _________ is over.
c) don't have enough time

This year, however is going to be different. Why?

a) It is a Monday AND January 1st
b) I want to
c)I plan on utilizing psychological ideas to create behavioral change in myself

Basically I lack Willpower to do the things I need to do, but have infinite patience for imaginary work I want to do. And what is it I usually want to do? Play games. Video games, board games, role-playing games have found themselves given hundreds of hours of attention, often in 4-8 hour increments, while I neglect exercising, being present in the lives of my children, learning and growing as a person. And, I'm not alone, am I? (The Appeal of Minecraft, World Health Organization may soon recognize video game addiction)

Could I take the things I enjoy about games and gaming and turn them into the Daily Deeds and Weekly Quests I would like to accomplish each week? Could I level up into a better husband, father, and person? Could I remake the world I actually live in to be slightly more like the fantasy worlds I spend so much time shaping?

After all, isn't the best solution for an unhealthy obsession an unhealthy obsession?

Let's see as we begin this New Year.

Tomorrow...How to Gain Experience Points.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The First Quest in the Game

In any game the rewards system has to incentivize  the players to accomplish their goal. Risk : Attacking is the only way to get cards. If you don't attack, other players will get cards. Cards are used for bonus armies. Bonus armies are game changers. Ticket to Ride : Connect your ticket cities. The longer you wait the harder it will be!  Pandemic : Work together as a team to keep diseases treated until you collect the disease cards for a Cure. Play your role's strengths, even if you have to ignore some problems.   In designing my game, I wanted to reward myself for 1. Doing deeds that help me become a better person and 2. Avoiding things that will, metaphorically and literally, kill me. See, I love being alive, and want to make the most out of life- a large part of that is simply time. I need a lot of it. More of it than I have unless I make some serious changes and maintain the good luck that has brought me this far. Here is how I get points, and how the...
Read more

Side Quests and Damage

Sid Meier, creator of the Civilization series of games, is often quoted that games are a set of interesting choices, of meaningful decisions. If so, is there any more meaningful decision than the Epic Quest that is your life?  If you really were thrust into a video game, or found, as Simulation Hypothesis ponders, that Life is Actually a Game, then wouldn't you spend some time leveling up your character? making meaningful connections? Enjoying the process? Acquiring skills, feats and powers that help unlock new paths and quests? What if Your Life Was a Game? And would not the work you invent for yourself be the ultimate pastime? More fun than even fun could be? In the movie classic Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, he is cursed with having to repeat the same day over and over again, with only his character able to recall that the day has been repeated. After thousands of days acting selfishly, he realizes that the gift of unlimited time will allow him to become the best ve...
Read more