What if we live in a video game??

Zerohedge recently re-printed an article from Hackernoon which is very much worth a read.
https://hackernoon.com/the-great-simulation-why-quantum-physics-artificial-intelligence-and-eastern-mystics-all-agree-b6c185213a18
It describes the various theories associated with life as a video simulation similar to the Matrix including quantum theory, Buddhism, pixels and more. But lets assume that we are living in part of a big situation. The likelihood of us being 'unplugged' and realising that we are able to jump across buildings, download helicopter pilot instructions and dodge bullets like Neo in the Matrix is pretty low. However, if we compare our lives with a massive video game we might also be able to empower ourselves to achieve more in life.

Letting go of fear

Fear of doing things that could expand and enrich our lives is a common obstacle that holds us back in life. Whether it's fear of failure, fear of what other people will think or just fear of the unknown, these things can prevent us from living a fulfilled and rewarding life. If life was a video game, none of these fears would seem logical. We would embrace any opportunity to advance to the next level if the actual loss was not so great. Of course we wouldn't unduly take risks because that would result in 'Game over' and we would have to start over, but illogical or unreasonable fears would not hold us back. Fear of what people think for example would drive us forward and we would laugh in the face of those who criticised us for starting a new business or attempting to better ourselves. The realisation that people often hold us back is purely based on their own egos would be obvious. It's necessary to take a few chances in video games just as it is in life, if we fail the first time we can try again.

Having fun

Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that the challenges in life are there to help us develop, learn and improve. A video game without challenges would be pretty boring and uninteresting. Life's challenges should be embraced positively and with an energetic attitude to get over them and improve as a result, so that the next time we face the same challenge we have 'powered up' and it will be easier to beat it. We will go in search of bigger and more difficult challenges that will test our skills to the max so that we can continue to power up. Playing video games is all about having fun, such as it should be with life. We can seek pleasure and relaxation in life and stay the same, or we can seek challenge and discomfort and try to win the game.

Playing in the real world

If we think of life as being the ultimate video game, with the most impressive graphics and physical experiences, why would we waste time playing on consoles and looking for escapism? It's akin to playing Grand theft auto, but spending all our time playing digital pool in a digital bar. We would not be experiencing the actual game, just the lesser game within the game. So why not switch of grand theft auto, world of warcraft or the TV and go out and play the real game of life. Obviously we wouldn't go around acting like we did in grand theft auto, but the subtleties of achieving great things in real life are far more rewarding than any achievements in video games, even if we aren't stealing cars and robbing banks.

Eliminating procrastination

In a video game we are actively trying to reach the next objective or win some reward. As it is with life, why would you sit around watching TV, spend half the morning lying in bed at weekends or use your time unproductively if you are already in a video game. The time you have in this real game of life is limited and relatively accelerating so you really don't have any time to waste. Organise your life to get the most out of it, getting things done that will push you forward to the next level. In video games we might spend hours repeating mundane tasks so that we can power up and move onto the next level. It's not that much different from life really. We go to work, earn small credits to help us survive, but instead of investing those credits to improve our lives we waste them on pointless leisure activities. Spend your credits on those things that will empower and improve your life and you will find that more credits will become more easily available, allowing you to have more choices in life. More importantly, get off your ass and start doing something useful. Today. Now! You have no time to lose. You wouldn't sit on the sofa doing nothing in a video game would you?

Taking control

In the video game we are controlling our avatar. The avatar does not make excuses or blame other avatars for failure. It knows that it's higher self (you) is in control. Likewise, in the real game of life you must take control of everything that is within your remit of control. You even have choices as to how you respond to that which is not in your control. You can throw your arms up and give up in the face of adversity, or you can say to yourself “this thing is not going to beat me” and get up and have another go. There are many more things in your control than you think, just believe that you have the power to change your circumstance, take action to do so and you will be surprised at how things start to fall into place.

Achieving a high score

Whatever it is that you want to achieve in life, if you put all of your energy into it, take action and keep trying you will eventually achieve the high score that you've been looking for. It might not be reflected in credits, but you will achieve some self actualisation or enlightenment when you rise above the physical reality of real life and realise that it was all just a game.