Lecture Notes: How You Play Games Is How You Do Everything

Introduction

• Concept: How you play games mirrors how you do everything in life.
• Goals: Explore the implications of this idea and how it can lead to positive changes.

Personal Experience with CyberPunk

• Played CyberPunk after recommendations about new DLC.
• Initial enthusiasm: 30 hours in a week.
• Waning interest: Boredom set in, moved on before starting DLC.
• Pivot to watching John Wick inspired by Keanu Reeves.

The Quote: How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything

• Origin: John Wick character calls it the first and last rule of life.
• Initial thoughts: Sinister sounding, but potentially truthful.
• Reflection: Personal habits in gaming reflect broader life patterns.

Patterns and Consistency

• Actions often follow a consistent pattern, big or small.
• Examples:
  • Meticulous planners in life = meticulous planners in games.
  • Aggressive risk-takers in life = aggressive in games like Valorant.
• Personal realization: Serial starter in both games and hobbies/projects.
• Challenge: Difficulty in sticking to one thing for a long period or completion.

Life Pressure and Rushing

• CyberPunk gameplay started feeling like a to-do list.
• Real-life parallels: Pressure to achieve societal "main story quests" like wealth, family, and purpose.
• Loss of joy: Focused on end goals, not enjoying the process.

Nostalgia and Present Enjoyment

• Youthful gaming (Skyrim) was about exploration and enjoyment, not end goals.
• Reflects past outlook on life: being present and curious.

Applying the Concept for Positive Change

• Small tweaks have significant impacts over time.
• Reference to "Atomic Habits": Plant small seeds of change for big results.
• Example goals:
  • Commit to finishing video game quests.
  • Enjoying moment-to-moment gameplay.

Broader Implications

• Changes in gaming can impact skills/behaviors in broader life.
• Example ambitions:
  • Leadership: Start with small, consistent steps.
  • Kindness: Resist negative urges in games to develop overall kindness.

Conclusion

• Small changes in approach to playing games could lead to bigger life changes.
• Importance of consistency and starting small.

"How you do anything is how you do everything."

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