Is LIFE a Game of Winning and Losing?

 Every individual, with their unique experiences and beliefs, perceives life in a distinctly different way. Some may view it as a form of competition — a relentless pursuit of success, wealth, fame, or triumph over others. From this perspective, there are winners and losers, determined by external achievements. Each of these perspectives is valid and worthy of respect.

However, a more advanced group perceives life as a journey, a chance to grow, connect, experience, and learn. This perspective shifts the focus from winning or losing to the quality of life—how kind, compassionate, authentic, and fulfilled one is in one’s approach to life. It’s an inspiring shift that motivates personal growth and creates a profound sense of fulfilment.

One may wonder how and where the concept of winning and losing originated. Ever since the Homosapiens loitered on Earth, there had been a constant battle for food, sex, survival, and supremacy—that’s when the wins and losses started counting. The philosophy specifies that it is a personal attitude. Imagine someone moored for years on an uninhabited island in remote Pacific waters. With no one to compete against, does the individual experience an emotional surge of triumph or remorse for losing?

Any job, passion, or creation pursued for self-pleasure and approval lacks win-or-lose emotions. It’s a liberating feeling, free from competitive constraints and filled with the sense of self-fulfilment. This sense of freedom and empowerment is a powerful motivator for personal growth.

When someone suggested I enter my garden for an annual horticulture competition, I realised that the pleasure I derive from pruning, rearing, and growing my greens is not dependent on external validation. The self-approval I earn when the flowers bloom and the mourning I feel at a plant’s death are potent sources of empowerment and confidence, independent of any competition or the emotions of winning or losing. They make you feel self-assured and confident.

Similarly, I hate performing in vocal music competitions. Soulful singing is like meditation—a connection to higher energy—and to accomplish this, I don’t need accolades or ovations from the audience.

One must let go of the idea of winning or losing.

In the game of life, the most important thing is just showing up and doing your best. The fragrance of winning is undoubtedly great, but if one is going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. NEIL PATEL correctly said – “Winning provides Happiness; Losing provides wisdom.” Once this philosophy is correctly understood, it’s okay to lose. A status is achieved when nothing holds you back, and you have your best chances of success. Regardless of the outcome, this commitment to doing what is best is a source of motivation and personal growth.

Human attitude plays a significant role in shaping life and uncovering its hidden intricacies. Like the steering wheel in a car, it doesn’t control the road, but it controls how we move through it. A positive attitude turns challenges into opportunities to grow, while a negative one sees only obstacles. One may not control life’s happenings, but attitudes determine how one experiences them and determine one’s direction. This understanding empowers us to shape our experiences and define our goals, whether we win or lose.

“A bad attitude is like a flat tyre. If you don’t change it, you will never go anywhere.”

The ability to succeed, fail, or win is just a matter of attitude. Ability comes from inner strength that doesn’t depend on winning a situation. Struggles and a whim to fight, nurture the strength. When an individual goes through hardships without surrendering – that is strength.

Ability nurtures the capability to do something, Motivation guides what to do, and Attitude determines how well the goal is accomplished. It’s not just about having the skills or the desire to achieve something, but also about the mindset and approach we bring to the task. A positive attitude can turn challenges into opportunities, while a negative attitude can only overcome obstacles.

‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh’s winning attitude was not built in a day or two just before the races—he worked and slogged for years, fostering his winning streak and the power to conquer. The irony is that when Milkha Singh focused on winning, his competitors focused on him and became losers.

In life, both winning and losing are inevitable. What is not acceptable is quitting. The habit of quitting can become a silent enemy. It starts small—avoiding difficult conversations, skipping activities, and postponing dreams. Over time, this habit fosters a mindset and attitude in which the person retreats when faced with discomfort. Still, success, growth, and breakthroughs often hide beyond that discomfort.

Each year, hundreds of mountaineers fail to complete the final ascent to Mount Everest and quit the climb from their base camps. However, they are still winners because they ventured outside their comfort zone and did their best to reach the pinnacle. They were winners despite their losses because they won with their wits and attitude. Winning and losing are meaningless because some people win by losing, and some lose by winning.

Champions are winners, and they are good at what they do. A strong desire, a dream, and a perfect vision drive them. ‘Champion warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war and seek to win.’ A champion is never afraid of losing, while everyone else is afraid of winning, and he stays humble in victory and resilient in defeat. The greatest glory never comes from winning but from rising each time you fall. People are defined by what they choose to do with their lives, not by what happens to them.

CONFUCIUS – “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential – these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence”. He spoke.

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