Let’s expand our sense of time so we don’t think in seconds but in hours not in hours but in days not in days but in months not in months but in a decade not in a decade but a lifetime not in a lifetime but in infinity Anything of quality takes more time to build than the sudden flash of the ignited dreams and passions
There is a theme that has been cropping up lately. Whether it be to do with my own life or that of those around me, I am seeing the patterns very clearly of how we as human beings do fall down the route of instant gratification, aka in the simplest of terms, our need to get a quick fix.
The stars must have aligned, alongside the planets, in some way shape or form. I have felt both the pressure and the solutions that come from the limitations in life that perhaps happen for the good.
Whether we are facing a physical or mental pain, or a huge longing in our lives, sometimes life answers back to us in indirect and roundabout ways. With certain pains and longings, there is an intensity that makes us want to both jump into the experience wholeheartedly and to be able to withstand it long enough to conquer it, or we simply wish to get our things and pack up our bags in the direction we came from. Perhaps to how it once was. Perhaps to a time when it was good and we had it all figured out.
But things in life are never that straight forward. Standing in front of this metaphorical mountain we must climb, sometimes we do not have a choice. A situation presents itself where the only direction to go is forward and make that climb. Sometimes, the lack of choice such cases is not because we cannot go back in the direction we came from. Sometimes, we know that our growth will come from experiencing the journey of a forward momentum- where what lies ahead is an unknown mystery but we feel we have to go on. We feel that we have to come out of our protective shell or passivity and meet another part of ourself that we long to see.
For that, as with many of the greatest challenges in our lives, the journey upwards is long and the path will test and surprise us multiple times. We are forced to think long term and to play the long game.
So, just like the newsletter “To Rest,” where I explored what it meant to really rest in our modern day society, I am exploring below what it means to play the long game.
So what does it mean to play the long game?
To play the long game is not to focus on instant gratification that may come with quick results. Meanwhile, we can still allow ourselves to celebrate the small wins along the way.
To play the long game is to recognise that the small wins are the large wins, because it is the accumulation of the small efforts and outcomes that actually make up what seems like one large accomplishment.
To play the long game is to develop our resilience. This is our ability to weather through the challenges that we may meet along the way.
To play the long game is to develop a sense of curiosity for the unknown and to not give into any fearful or nervous tensions that we feel when facing the unknown.
To play the long game is to embrace the possibilities, in ourselves and about our outer circumstances.
To play the long game is to cultivate a multitude of patience and acceptance within ourselves and for the people journeying with us. Should this fail, to re-gather and meet with patience and acceptance, again and again and again.
To play the long game is to think long term.
To play the long game is not to judge ourselves by the day, nor by our current inability to yet meet the vision we hold.
To play the long game is to infuse all that we do with energy and intention.
To play the long game is to be decisive in our actions, recognising that life is a game of choices.
To play the long game is to save and invest on what matters.
To play the long game is to recognise that little things do add up.
To play the long game is to believe in ourselves, our capabilities, our way of living and being in the world, our gifts and our offerings and our capacity to love again and again and again.
Contemplations
:
What are some of the long games that you are playing in your life?
Which area of your life is testing you to think long term?
What do you think it means to play the long game?
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