Are You Playing The 'LONG GAME'?

 

How often have we heard that we should be PLAYING THE LONG GAME?  For many of us, hearing the LONG GAME seems the most daunting words to hear.  And instead of pointing the blame on ourselves, I'll blame it to the RAT RACE where we are all in.  YESSSSSS, that RAT RACE is a much more punishing race than the traditional Boston Marathon.  So, WHATs the upsides of PLAYING THE LONG GAME???

Over time, PLAYING THE LONG GAME has been applied to a hodge-podge of aspects in our life, both personal and professional.  We PLAY A LONG GAME WHEN we're building up trust in our relationships.  Of course, we heard of relationships that happened WHEN a couple met and got to know each other in a bar one Friday night and by the time they picked up the check, there was mutuality as to WHAT happens next.  So, NOT to cast aspersions in that setting, allow me to ask a very speculative question:  How far will that couple go in life if everything seemed 'instant'???

As children, we were wired for SHORT-TERM pleasure and satisfaction.  We CAN'T blame our elders because traditionally, that's HOW children are reared, with lots of things that will brighten the days of children within the SHORT-TERM, and many times in an instant.  True, our needs are often intense and immediate, crying for our next meal helps us survive, in fact.  BUT PLAYING THE LONG GAME???

The thing is, PLAYING THE LONG CAME needs to be pegged to our long-term thinking, learned over time as our perspective broadens until we are able to see the benefits with an apples-to-apples comparison, LIKE saving money for a cool toy rather than spending it on candy.  And then, let's give credit WHERE credit is due and that's our parents no less WHO taught us that lesson by helping us to visualize the rewards that's to come, yes that's the toy, as a result of the decision to forget the candy.  According to psychologists, that perspective requires the development of two traits namely PATIENCE and IMAGINATION.  Both are in short supply in children and even teenagers.  YES, both PATIENCE and IMAGINATION come with maturity although admittedly plenty of adults still struggle on this😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  Summarizing the least obvious reason for PLAYING THE LONG GAME, it means paying a small price today to make OR achieve tomorrow in a much more straightforward and simpler manner.  YES, as adults, PLAYING THE LONG GAME can help us get through many tough OR challenging times in life, especially WHEN tomorrow's tomorrow seems quite still far away by connecting to our own purpose.  For brevity, PLAYING THE LONG GAME means hanging in there WHEN we hit bumps in the road [in our relationships].  So, let's NOT argue if PLAYING THE LONG GAME is the way to go because that's stating the obvious dude!!!