To Thine Own Self Be True - best strategy?

[Amanda Norris]

I just re-read "Life - The Ultimate Game" and "To Thine Own Self Be True". Steve suggests playing the game based on the kind of player you are in order to figure out the rules of the game. Does this mean that we should always make moves that fit the kind of player we are, or is this just a temporary strategy when we aren't sure what else we should do? What if we make moves based on the kind of player we are and we experience continued failure? Does this tell us that we should change our strategy? Maybe we should play differently in order to experience success. Can two players both achieve success using opposite strategies? Steve says that one of his characteristics is courage. What if I am not a courageous player? Does that mean that I should play a defensive, careful, fear-based game? Will that bring me success? Or is there something about the game design that makes being courageous necessary for success? Do we experience failure in life because we aren't being true to ourselves or because our true nature doesn't fit the rules of the game?

[Brutha]

In general you profit in games from keeping your strategy. That's what strategy is about, not making moves that don't fit into the strategy.

Most games have multiple good strategies, but that doesn't mean that choosing a strategy isn't useful.

Games don't have to have a "best" strategy but can also have a nash equilibrium in which multiple best strategies coexist.

In addition choosing a best strategy is pointless in games. Seeking for a good strategy is often a better approach.

I however do think that courage is generally a advantageous trait regardless of which good strategy you choose in life.

[Andrew Gubb]

What is success? You need to choose that for yourself (feeling good is a decent start, but once you've decided to feel good you realise you need something to work for for a sense of meaning and you're back to step one). So your strategy will depend on what you are aiming for.

You're not playing against (or with) equal players. We are all in different stages in the game. So we will all have different strategies, because the game for each of us is different.

Ultimately I think there can be only one best strategy -- for you, for now, at this level. You need to find it for yourself though. Others can inspire you but only you can live your own life.

Do we experience failure in life because we aren't being true to ourselves or because our true nature doesn't fit the rules of the game?

The universe has rules of a sort. Things don't fall upwards. But I think you might be confusing those with man-made rules. You're thinking someone else can tell you the rules of your own game. Well, they can try, but ultimately the responsibility is on you. Don't give your power away. Play by your own rules.