World Education

Have you ever played Asteroids, the popular arcade game from the 80’s? What can Asteroids teach any of us about how to approach any of our dreams, goals, or desires? Well, if my memory serves me right, there is a level in the arcade game where you can go into a hyper mode and spin around like crazy and shoot endless amounts of ammunition. When all else fails, this isn’t such a bad way to go.

Where can this method be applied? One situation I can think of is if you are someone that is single and looking to get a date. You could go to a bar and stand around looking at all the attractive women and hope that maybe you might have the courage to talk to just one of them and get a date. So weeks and months go by while you just keep standing around without ever talking to even just one girl. Well, if you are able to lower your personal firewall, you could go into hyper mode and hit on every attractive lady you see. This would be similar to the hyper level in Asteroids. If you hit on 50 woman in one night, one of them might say yes to your advances. Better yet, more than one of them might say yes and give you that phone number.

So basically, instead of just trying something once, try it a million times. It’s just like playing the lottery. Technically, your chances are better at winning something the more tickets you buy. Therefore, in the game of life, buy more lottery tickets. Go into hyper-mode and fire as many shots as you possibly can. There is no finer moment in life when you have finally accomplished something that you have longed to accomplish, and you sit down to take a rest knowing you gave it everything you had. It is a great feeling and can erase anything in your life that you think isn’t good. Afterall, wouldn’t you feel better about accomplishing a goal if you had to give everything you had, rather than accomplish it with pure luck on your first try? It just isn’t the same.

Here is an example of someone who didn’t let failure or unfortunate events stop him from pursuing his dreams:

1816: His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.

1818: His mother died.

1831: Failed in business.

1832: Ran for state legislature - lost.

1832: Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.

1833: Failed in business

1834: Ran for state legislature again - won.

1835: Was engaged to be married, but his sweetheart died.

1836: Had a total nervous breakdown

1838: Ran to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated.

1840: Ran to become elector - defeated.

1843: Ran for Congress - lost.

1846: Ran for Congress again - this time he won - went to Washington and did a good job.

1848: Ran for re-election to Congress - lost.

1849: Tried to become a land officer in his home state - rejected.

1854: Ran for Senate of the United States - lost.

1856: Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention - got less than 100 votes.

1858: Ran for U.S. Senate again - lost again.

1860: Elected president of the United States and became: President Abraham Lincoln

So after all of what Abraham Lincoln went through and his determination for success, someone had to shoot the guy in the back to put a stop to him. This is how you should live your life. Stop at nothing. Die trying. Go into hyper mode as if you are playing Asteroids and don’t stop until someone puts a bullet in your back.

Categories: Psychology