Two weeks in and it feels as if it was at least four months! Honestly, I think 2022 was exhausting and I have the impression that many people feel that way. A few years ago all clubs and institutions I was a member of would post January challenges on the first of January: 30 days of yoga, Veganuary, dry January. I was amused to see a few days ago new format of challenges: 21 days of yoga, 21 days of healthy food, etc. Do you have any resolutions?
Why do we do that anyway? We think about the previous year, what it brought or changed. It is like a chance to add some direction in our lives. Are we doing what we really want? What is out there for us anyway?
One of the most beautiful concepts I have learned last year was about the finite and infinite games. All undertakings in life fall into one of these two categories. Finite games have the beginning and the end, clearly defined rules and number of participants. There are winners and losers. Infinite games may change dynamically, and the goal is one: keep the game in play. Life consists of numerous finite games: we play to be the best at school, to get a great job, to win a contract, to get a car or have a happier life than everyone we know. We compete at sports, we try outsmart ourselves in gambling or social games. Without finite games the life would not be what it is. In the end though, as a human race we are all participant in one big infinite game. The goal is simple: to keep playing. To be alive longer, to have a healthier planet, to make an impact and not be forgotten.
Finite games are contained within the infinite game. Not many of us see that from the early on, we are conditioned to believe we need to earn our way of experiencing the world. These things are of course important, you need to have a job to be able to afford fulfilling some of your dreams. Is that a mean to an end though? Or is that a goal in itself?
Of course the journey is also a great experience alone. Sometimes we struggle in a job we hate only for the purpose of one thing: learn about what truly matters and what really works for us. To remove our limiting beliefs, we often need to experience them first. Is that not the entire idea behind karma? Lesson repeats as needed.
But if you already know your life can have a bit more purpose and meaning, you can introduce some intention to the way you spend your time. What do you want to experience, grow and contribute. You may say “but I need money for this”. Ask yourself “why” five times until you get to the bottom of it.
What do I want to experience?
The experience is for yourself. It can be travel, ways of obtaining pleasure, experiences shared with other people, hobbies and things you do to please your mind.
How do I want to grow?
This is about improving yourself, growing and expanding. Becoming a better person and more capable or powerful than the one you were a day before.
What do I want to contribute to the planet?
How do you want to change the world? What do you want to do to make it better? How do you help humanity to continue playing?
Speaking for myself, I want to keep going. The list of dreams and goals is endless, and it is really hard to keep up. The difficult part is that I am in the minority. It is hard to do what I want, to be that one and only who believes in myself. But complying to the beliefs that are unreasonable to me would probably be harder. I am chosing my hard 
