Gaming in the Real World

“Video games are a waste of time.” 

“Video games are for kids.” 

Ever since diving into the self-improvement space, I’ve heard statements like this. 

If you want to make money, you have to give up video games. It made since. Video games take up a lot of time without a payoff. 

I fell for the lie. 

Let’s face facts. There are people making a living from playing videos games or talking about them. 

I don’t care if they are the minority. I don’t care if they are “special cases”. If it’s been done before, why can’t you do it? 

If you say you can’t do it, but other people have, you have to accept that you’re either not good enough or you’re not passionate about video games enough. 

Well, I’m not inferior to anyone. And, I refuse to give up on my passion. 

In this article, I’m going to give insights from a couple of decades of gaming. I’ll share how gaming is beneficial for success in the real world and how I’m going to use it to help me break out of the rat race. 

The Beginning 

Like many, I started playing video games as an escape from the real world. It’s not like my life was horrible in the real world. 

I was drawn into the virtual world. Worlds of endless possibility. Worlds with magic. The real world was just boring in comparison. 

Who doesn’t want to be the world’s strongest? 

Who doesn’t want to fly?

Who doesn’t want to be a hero?

Games drew me in with the promise of possibility. 

But, what kept me there? 

Achievement Unlocked

I remember when I used to chase achievements on my Xbox 360. Unlocking all of the achievements on Halo 3 was like another game within the game.

It felt natural, something I HAD to do. 

All great games have this system. 

Each victory is a surge of dopamine, a sweet reward for perseverance. 

Every quest completed is a step closer to the next level. The next part of the story. 

I didn’t know it at the time. 

But, that passion and dedication to a goal is invaluable in real world success. 

I’m still learning but I believe that the key to tapping into that routine is to find something that you are passionate about. 

Something that you can work for hours a day on and not be “burnt out”. 

If someone can spend 8 hours a day working in a soul-crushing job, I’m sure you can find something that you enjoy doing that you can work hours on. 

But, that’s just one part. 

Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat 

Games also nurtured an insatiable curiosity. 

They encouraged me to explore unknown territories, to question, to seek. 

I’ve clocked in hundreds of hours in Skyrim. Yeah, I love to explore and I love to test out different characters. 

It would be later when I found that I had that same level of curiosity when it came to reading. 

Specifically, health/fitness, philosophy/spirituality, and business. 

I’m beginning to think that this applies to any subject, but new questions came up everytime I learned something new. 

As I learned and tested out one thing that I learned about fitness, I had to dive deeper and learn more things. 

More tools for my arsenal. Similarly to how I could unlock new skills and options for my in-game character, I could do the same in real life. 

Life is a GAME. 

Don’t let anyone tell you differently. 

Sure, the stakes are higher. 

But, individuals decide what is important to them and if anything matters at all (I’m looking at you Nihilism 👀)

The Craft of Dreaming

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of gaming was the freedom to create—the ability to craft characters and worlds that mirrored my aspirations. 

I’m still working on myself. I don’t think the process of self-development ever ends. 

I’m taking the advice of Robert Greene by trying to connect with the child I once was. 

As children, we have our natural passions and inclinations before society indoctrinates us. 

Perhaps, I really do enjoy creating IF I love what I’m creating. 

Probably, that is why I’m drawn to the Synthesizer business. 

Probably, that is why my favorite part of being a Dungeon Master (DM) for 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons was creating characters. 

I have much to think about which will fuel the creation of more content. 

Addiction

“All of this is well and good but what about the addictive nature of video games?” 

I’m glad you asked. 

The addictive nature of gaming became evident. The line between hobby and obsession blurred.

Between anime, video games, and the American diet, I became obese 

A fatty 

I didn’t have anyone telling me to make YouTube videos about the games I was playing. 

No one told me to start building a community about what I was passionate about. 

So, sure you can be “addicted” and unhealthy and a life where no one loves you. 

Or, you can be ADDICTED and have a huge community that loves your work and provides the income you need to survive 

We’ll dive into that more in future articles. 

Next Steps 

“Okay, all of that sounds good. Video games can nurture some useful skills. So what?” 

Well, I’m done trying business models that I don’t give a F*ck about like SMMA. 

I’m done working with people I can’t relate to. 

I have a YouTube channel called Vanhi Media 

I’m discussing a lot of anime stuff at the moment. I’m focusing on the motivational parts. 

Eventually, I’ll release my own books, shows, and games that take place in the fictional world I’m working on. 

I’m no longer a passive consumer. I’m a producer in this community I love so much. 

My goal is to build a community of people who not only love anime/video games but also want to be the best versions of themselves. 

It’s time to say goodbye to mediocre choices

Goodbye to mediocre health

Goodbye to a mediocre life