TV, Facebook & Video Games Vs. Your Life
Some people like TV, others like Fakebook…
Me? I like video games.
There are times when you need to just allow yourself to shut down.
Video games (along with TV and Fakebook) are not inherently bad in themselves. It’s when they get in the way of achieving real life victories that they become a problem.
This is why it’s important to know yourself.
If you are aware of your tendencies you can keep them from hindering.
I don’t ever need to worry about TV getting in the way of my responsibilities or getting lost in the black-hole of Fakebook.
They just don’t capture me like a good video game will.
I’ve even noticed that when I’m successful on a game that I’m less driven to succeed in real life.
Our brains can’t tell the difference between digital success and real success…
It’s the same reason guys get a testosterone boost when their football team wins. Their brains see the victory of the team they are cheering for and interpret it as a personal victory as well.
Knowing this about myself I have to be careful about when and how many false victories I give myself.
This means no video games until after I’ve completed my responsibilities for the day.
Is there a win I need in real life? No games until I’ve got it.
Video games, like TV and Fakebook, make you passive.
Passivity makes you ineffective.
This could mean no games until the end of the day, it could mean no games for a week, depending on how long it takes me to achieve that next ‘real life’ goal.
Success, for me, is not about overcoming my natural tendencies, it’s about being aware of them and working with them to achieve my goals.
It’s about turning a potential weakness into a strength and a driving force.
- The first step is taking the time to examine your life and figure out what is holding you back.
- Next, you have to decide if it’s something you should keep or if it’s always going to hinder you.
- Third, decide on the proper boundaries for it; when will using it as a reward benefit you instead of hinder your growth.
- Finally, take drastic action. Think, “If your right-hand causes you to sin…” style action.
Don’t make excuses for yourself, you know what needs to be done.
What is more important?
Do you want to see that dream in your heart come to pass or see what happens next on Game of Thrones?
These are the small battles that win or lose the war.
-Andre
P.S. I’m starting a challenge with anyone who’d like to join me. If you would like to take some massive action and jump forward in any area of life, not just your spiritual life, hit reply and send me an email letting me know you are in.
It’s going to be us keeping each other accountable that we don’t do our time wasting things until we achieve our goal. I’m thinking one on one time, moral support and daily check-ins to make sure we are both going full steam to reach our goals.
Shoot me an e-mail and let me know if you are in!
