Playing a Game We Can’t Win: Finding Purpose in a Fixed World

Two Monks on a Motorcycle: Corporate Zen Stories

Day 111

Life is a bit like playing a game where you know from the start that you’re going to lose. The rules are fixed, the outcome is predetermined, and you’re just a limited-time offer in the grand scheme of things. Yet, we continue to play, each day a new level, each interaction a chance to figure out our purpose.

A Tale of Searching for Meaning

I remember a moment a few years ago when I felt like I was losing at this game called life. It wasn’t a dramatic “rock bottom” experience, but rather a slow, creeping realization that I was going through the motions without much purpose. The grind of everyday life was wearing me down, and I started questioning the point of it all. Why bother? What was I doing here?

It wasn’t just a personal crisis but an existential one. I found myself grappling with questions like, “What’s the point of all this?” and “Is this really all there is?” It felt like I was playing a game that was rigged against me, where no matter what I did, the outcome was fixed.

The Turning Point

One day, while reading an old book, I came across a line that hit me like a ton of bricks: “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Suddenly, those words resonated deeply. I realized that the purpose of life isn’t some grand prize at the end, but rather the experiences we gather along the way. The game isn’t about winning or losing; it’s about how we play it, about finding meaning in the moments we share with others.

This shift in perspective wasn’t immediate—it took time, like peeling back layers of an onion to reveal what was truly important. I started to see that the struggles, the challenges, the moments of despair—they were all part of the game. The setbacks weren’t failures but steps on the path to finding my purpose.

Finding Purpose in the Mundane

One of the keys to navigating this game of life, I found, is embracing the mundane. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of a grand purpose, but often, it’s the simple, everyday actions that lead to meaningful change. I began to appreciate the small things—like a quiet coffee in the morning, a smile from a stranger, or the satisfaction of a job well done. These weren’t just distractions; they were the building blocks of purpose.

I also started to engage more deeply with my work. Instead of seeing it as a daily grind, I started to view it as a medium through which I could contribute, grow, and learn. Each meeting, each task, was an opportunity to make a difference, even if it was just a tiny one. This shift wasn’t about changing the endgame; it was about changing my approach to the game itself.

Rallying Through Struggles

Of course, finding purpose isn’t a linear journey. There were days when I felt lost, days when the game seemed too fixed, too rigged. But instead of giving up, I learned to embrace those moments. I started asking myself better questions—questions about who I wanted to be, what kind of impact I wanted to make, and how I wanted to show up in the world. These questions didn’t provide instant answers but they pushed me towards understanding my purpose more clearly.

The breakthrough came when I realized that the game wasn’t about playing to win, but playing to live. Life isn’t about the final score; it’s about the effort you put into each move. The game may be fixed, but we have the power to play it with all our heart, to make the most of every moment, no matter the outcome.

We are all limited-time offers, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make our time here meaningful. Embracing the idea that life isn’t about a fixed outcome but rather a series of meaningful experiences can change everything. We don’t need to play the game perfectly; we just need to play it wholeheartedly. And maybe, just maybe, in the end, that’s what makes the ordinary extraordinary—living each day as if it were a purposeful play, regardless of the fixed rules around us.

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