Ikigai Thought for Today: Games
When the Games End, That's when life begins
Audio narration by David Marlow
It’s almost a game. We play lots of games in life, and the games start early.
When we are young (some of you still are), we set career goals and aspirations.
Those are fine and a natural part of our growth and development. We have a position or an amount of money in mind that will make us ‘happy’ or satisfy our needs.
That ambition, like any, leads to another and then another.
Think for a moment about how that process starts.
It’s almost a game. We play lots of games in life, and the games start early.
✅ As a young child, you’re playing the school game or playing the social game.
✅ When you start to work, you begin playing the money game at some point that transitions to the status game.
Each of these games has progressively longer time horizons.
At some point, perhaps you are here; we come to realize these are not real life at all, just games.
If it is just a game, does the outcome matter?
Don’t you get tired of games? I did.
I’m at the stage where I’m not only tired of games, I also want something more from life.
I want to live out why I was created, expressed as my true self and essence, in harmony with everything I do.
That is the definition of Ikigai.
Good one David. It made me think about what my father-in-law used to say: “You work hard, and you play hard.” My Dad had a philosophy of sorts when he told us: “Find out what you like to do and then figure out a way to get paid for it.” And then Paul said to the Thessalonians, which is a message to us all (and part of my Ikigai): “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Really appreciate your thought for today. This also describes God’s plan for us. Peace and fulfillment will never be discovered playing the career, money or achievement games.
There’s nothing wrong with money or achievements, they’re part of how we are built to apply our unique gifts.
Finding the peace, contentment, and salvation that can only be found living Jesus’ teachings is the path to filling that void that achievements and money never will.