Living in a complex world, everyday we’re moving between friend groups, work, chores, dreams and drama. Each and every area of life has such depths, that it seems like a world in of itself. A game of games, which follows certain rules.

The concept of the game of games is not a new one for me. It is an idea that has stuck with me over the years. It has passed the test of time. Over the past decade or more, there have been plenty of moments, where it helped me out, and put things into a more useful perspective.

It gives the everlasting dash between topics and fields a name, and makes it addressable. Giving things a name, puts them in the realm of the thinkable. It helps grasping things which seem already almost out of reach.

But then what can be gained from it? Let’s start with the definition.

The Basic Concept

Behind the game of games lies a certain viewpoint which can be taken, by calling life a “game of games”. This viewpoint assumes:

• Life contains of many distinct areas, which can be called as “games”, which much like games follow certain rules, contained only to them.
• These life areas could be finance, work, housing, health, social life, sports, intimate relationship, and many more.
• Calling them as a “games” introduces a playful aspect. It suggests looking at each area with the possibility of change and positivity, rather seriousness and dread.
• Each area of life is pursued, reaching a certain level of success. Like in a game, it is easy to tell which area of life is doing great, and where it’s lacking.
• Calling Life as the game of games, implies that while each area seems separate, losing in one of those games will affect all other.
• Though each game or area seems like a world in itself, the real game is about juggling and balancing all aspects, which again can be done at a certain level of success, like a game.

Concept Examples

Especially the last two rules tie all the others together into a positive viewpoint. For example, one might succeed in every area of life, only lacking in the social game - having no friends. This might render all other areas meaningless. Successes couldn’t be shared or cherished, and the lack of networking skills would also spill into work.

Or, one might exceed at all areas of life, except finances. Without the single aspect of money, the family and socials may break apart. Intimate relationships will suffer, as the wife might leave the husband once he loses his job. Or it might become impossible to get a high-paying job, due to lack of cleanliness and clothing. This is not to simply say “money rules the world”. It is just one of those aspects, which once it goes south, could spoil everything else. Equally, only focusing on money will also not solve anything.

A Compassionate Viewpoint

From this viewpoint, I found it can bring compassion for others, and ourselves. How much are we going to judge a person, who is lacking in one or two areas of life? Maybe fitness and finance? Depending on how hard these games are lost, this might have a severe influence on all other aspects, which often leads to strong social judgement.

Can it be possible, to look at people, independently of how well they are doing at their games? To use an American label, “a loser”, would be one who lost at many, or possibly all, of their games. But how could we tell if that person is suffering from losing only one aspect, which influences everything else?

One step further, at what point would we, as an outsider, approach this person and reach out in compassion? Would we reach out to “the total loser”, who is completely broken at the bottom of the hierarchy? Would we feel connected to someone who lost at 3, 2 or 1 game? Or at 1 game, temporarily?

I dislike the American thinking of labeling someone as a “loser”, and indeed this whole theory stands opposite to that sort of thinking. The game of games suggests, that whatever the current score, the game is still going, as long as somebody is alive and playing. Maybe as a society, our responsibility cannot be to have everybody succeed. Instead, what we can focus on if creating the circumstances, which are needed, for somebody who temporarily lost, to stand up again.

Taking the viewpoint of the game of games, in its consequence, could help us to create more fair, and more humane cities, societies and interactions. To live in better harmony with whoever we meet, seems again like a big bonus point in many games.

Theory Limits

Writing about this, what are the limits of this concept? I would call this concept a success, if it inspires others just as it inspires me. If it can bring a helpful perspective, which can be applied during certain times.

One limit for sure is the lack of a greater picture. Lacking the greater philosophical context, it is hard to say for me how outdated the idea is, who already discussed it, or how much else exists around it. The fallacies of the idea are unknown to me. If a fellow reader of this blog could point some hints in the comment section, I would be very glad.

Game Severity in Relation

While the concept has been with me for a long while, recently I stumbled upon a new aspect of it. It has to be with being a bit more specific in how individual game affects one another. The idea being that each game has a different weight in relation to other games.

While it would be laughable to try and list these individual relationships and their weights based on the situation, I assume that there is some value in considering them. Once I reach a conclusion here, I will add those in a follow-up post.

Rounding Up

Having a great concept for life is not as good as having a great life. Simultaneously, an abstract concept might still be helpful with navigating difficult times, and overcoming challenges.

When all areas of life meld together, in a self-sustaining and stable state of harmony, a mental modal like this might seem funny, or like a joke. Until then it might be a useful companion, which at-least for me, has done a wonderful job.