Life is a Game:
How to Play Smart and Level Up

Imagine this.

You’re in the middle of a video game, about to face the biggest boss fight you’ve ever encountered.

You’ve been preparing for this moment—gathering weapons, upgrading skills, building alliances.

Your heart races as you step into the arena, fully aware of the stakes.

Now pause.

What if I told you that life is just like that video game?

What if every challenge, every relationship, every skill you acquire is part of the same process?

But here’s the twist.

Too many people approach video games with more strategy and focus than they do their own lives.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

​A recent survey found that over 80% of people play games either on their phone, computer or a console.

Almost 50% of people play games on a dedicated console on average for 5-10 hours per week.​

What if you could use video games as a dojo, a training ground for mastering real life?

Instead of escaping into a virtual world, you could treat it like a mirror, reflecting the tools, mindsets, and strategies that help you win at the game of life.

Let me show you how to transform your gaming mindset into a life-changing philosophy—one that lets you level up, face life’s “boss fights,” and keep playing with purpose.

Step 1: Recognize and Stay in the Flow Channel

Think about the best moments you’ve had while gaming.

Maybe it was a fast-paced match where you were laser-focused, every move flowing effortlessly into the next.

Time disappeared, and you were completely immersed.

Psychologists call this flow—a state where the challenge you’re facing perfectly matches your skills.

Now think about your life.

How often do you feel that same sense of flow?

Most people get it wrong.

They either push too hard, diving into challenges they’re not ready for, or stay stuck in boredom, avoiding growth.

In gaming terms, it’s like wandering into a high-level dungeon with a starter weapon or endlessly grinding low-level mobs because it’s “safe.”

The sweet spot lies in the flow channel.

It’s where the difficulty stretches you just enough to grow without overwhelming you.

When you’re in this zone, both in games and life, you’re not just surviving—you’re thriving.

Here’s an experiment.

The next time you sit down to play, pay attention to what pulls you into flow.

Is it the right balance of challenge and skill?

The sense of progress?

The focus it demands?

Then, ask yourself:

Maybe it’s taking on a project at work that feels just a bit out of your comfort zone or trying a new hobby where you’re a total beginner.

Like in a game, the goal is progress, not perfection.

Step 2: Level Up

Every game has a leveling system.

You start as a noob, fumbling with the controls, but with time, you unlock new abilities, gather better gear, and become a force to be reckoned with.

It’s addictive because progress is visible.

You can see your stats improving.

Now imagine your life had a similar leveling system.

What skills, tools, or “gear” would you need to unlock to become the next version of yourself?

Here’s the thing.

In real life, progress isn’t always as obvious as a glowing XP bar, which is why so many people give up.

But the principles are the same.

You figure out where you want to go, break the goal into smaller quests, and keep grinding.

• Want to improve your fitness? Start with one push-up, then two. Before you know it, you’re completing challenges you once thought impossible.
• Want to build a network? Begin by reaching out to one person a week. Each conversation is a small victory that builds toward bigger opportunities.
• Want to improve your finances? Treat your bank account like an in-game inventory. Cut unnecessary expenses (drop the junk items), invest in high-value tools (skills, education, etc.), and watch your wealth grow over time.

Every time you “level up” in one area of your life, you gain access to new opportunities—just like unlocking a new map in a game.

And the best part?

The more you level up, the more momentum you build. It’s exponential growth, not linear.

Step 3: Tackle the Big Bosses

Every great game has its “boss fights”—those epic moments where all your preparation is tested.

These are the challenges that make your palms sweat and your heart pound, the moments where you either rise to the occasion or hit the dreaded “Game Over” screen.

Life is no different.

The “big bosses” in real life might be a major career change, a relationship conflict, or starting your own business.

These are the moments where your skills, mindset, and preparation are put to the test.

Here’s what most people get wrong.

They try to skip ahead.

They want to face the big boss without putting in the work to prepare.

In gaming terms, it’s like rushing to fight a dragon while wearing nothing but beginner armor.

Smart players know better.

They scout the terrain, gather resources, and master smaller challenges before taking on the big ones.

And when they do step into the arena, they don’t see failure as the end—they see it as feedback.

Think back to your biggest challenges in life.

Were there moments where you fell short?

Instead of treating those moments as defeats, what if you treated them like respawns?

What lessons did you learn?

How did they prepare you for your next attempt?

The next time you’re gearing up for a real-life boss fight, remember: It’s not about defeating the challenge on your first try.

It’s about being ready to adapt, learn, and come back stronger.

Step 4: Keep Playing the Game

Here’s the part no one tells you about video games—or life.

The goal isn’t necessarily to win.

​It’s to keep playing.​

Think about it: In most games, “winning” means the adventure is over.

The credits roll, and you’re left feeling a mix of satisfaction and emptiness.

That’s why the best games aren’t about the ending—they’re about the journey.

They’re about exploring, growing, and discovering new ways to enjoy the process.

Life works the same way.

Too often, people get fixated on “winning”—whether it’s hitting a career milestone, reaching a certain income, or achieving a specific goal.

But here’s the kicker: Once you “win,” what’s next?

The smart way to approach life (and games) is to focus on sustainable growth.

Instead of rushing to the finish line, find ways to enjoy the process.

• Stay curious.
• Keep learning.
• Experiment with new approaches.

The beauty of this mindset is that it keeps you engaged.

It transforms every setback into a puzzle to solve, every victory into a stepping stone for the next adventure.

And just like in a game, it makes the journey infinitely more rewarding.

Time to Level Up Your Life

At its core, martial arts is a practice of controlled pretend—a safe environment where you train for challenges you might one day face in real life.

Video games are no different.

They’re a space where you can experiment, fail, and grow without the real-world consequences.

But here’s the magic: If you’re intentional, the lessons you learn in games can apply to life.

You can take the strategies, the mindsets, and the joy of progress and use them to level up in the real world.

So the next time you fire up your console or boot up a game on your PC, ask yourself:

Because when you approach life like a smart gamer, every challenge becomes a quest, every setback a chance to respawn, and every victory another reason to keep playing.

The question is: Are you ready to play the game smarter?

Let’s get started.

The controller—or the reins of your life—are in your hands.

P.S. If you found this content helpful, I have a favor to ask.

Actually two of them, a selfish one and a not-so-selfish one.

First the selfish one, if this was helpful to you, forward it to someone you think it might help. That helps me to grow my reach.

Now the not-selfish one, the one thing I learned on the mat and on the job was that the most successful leaders were not the ones who knew the most but were the ones who applied and taught the most.

So, if you want to be a better leader, do two things, take immediate action on what you learned today AND share it with someone else. You'll look badass, I promise you.

Also, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, hit me up, reply to this email and let me know what's going on and how I can help you to be a better warrior, leader, and badass.

Thank you, I appreciate you being here in The Daily Dojo, you can learn more at CharlesDoublet.com​