Game not over: The process of Graceful Failure and Epic Wins

"We will not be proceeding with your application."

These words are synonymous with the feeling of "Game over," the two soul-crushing words. Even more so after all that emotional investment, it takes a toll - whether the setback is in real life or a game.

I've encountered my fair share of failures while playing and personally. Sometimes, the sting of defeat left me feeling stuck, unable to move past the loss.

But as soon as I began applying my knowledge in Games for Learning to cultivate a mindset shift, I gained a unique perspective on failure – one that could help me cope with and grow from setbacks. You see, in the world of gaming, failure isn't the end. It's an integral part of the learning process, a chance to regroup, rethink your strategy, and return stronger.

Let me share three key insights that have helped me cultivate resilience in the face of failure, both in the while playing and beyond:

1. Thinking of the job hunt as one where I have multiple lives

Games offer the opportunity to have various lives or restart after a loss. Adopting this perspective while applying to jobs every day and not hearing a positive outcome has helped me see failure as a temporary setback rather than a final destination.?

I would be lying if I told you that making this shift was easy, but it has helped me. It reminds me that this game of life keeps on going. Reframing failure and attaching less emotional value to the outcome has been a powerful tool for resilience.

2. Embrace the concept of 'Graceful Failure '

I wish life were a game, but since it isn't re-designing it in my mind as one has allowed me to think of it as a space to make mistakes and learn by monitoring the effectiveness of my approach. Shifting the focus from avoiding failure or rejection to embracing mistakes or even pure lousy luck as a natural part of learning has fostered a more constructive mindset.

3. One level at a time

By acknowledging that failure is a part of the process and that there is a boss level I preparing myself for, I redirect myself more towards learning. The current economy has significant abrupt variables that nobody, including me, is prepared for. So, thinking about it as a natural-intelligence-generated crisis game has helped me laugh at the confusion.?

4. Knowledge of an epic win

An epic win is a significant, memorable, and emotionally satisfying victory or achievement that often exceeds the player's expectations. It's a moment of triumph that stands out from the usual successes experienced throughout the game. Playing games long enough and navigating through the uncertainties has helped me know that, at one point, there is an epic win in the making. When it happens, it is going to be epic!

Here's a TedTalk for the science behind it! https://youtu.be/dE1DuBesGYM?si=ApL2_9DXmX9XkLYt

Illustrations by Mary Amato