Think about it.

It comes as no surprise that children [and adults] have become addicted to technology since the dot-com boom.

In today's digital age, video games and digital devices are around every corner, capturing our attention and consuming our time like never before.

But upon closer examination:

Children seem to possess an unparalleled level of focus and determination when it comes to activities like video games.

Their ability to immersive themselves in virtual worlds for hours on end can be both impressive and concerning.

Are adults really so different?

Consider the modern day workaholic… often sacrificing their health, under slept, over working at their career slaving away at a job [to make everybody up the chain of command money as they get a portion of the prize] only to blow it away on self deprecating escapism activities then returns on Monday morning repeating the cycle all over again.

Is this not a form of addiction in its own right?

Then go about judging kids for playing video games that makes them happy while the adults sits on a high horse while their soul deteriorates on the inside.

Ironic.

Children's self-discipline is often characterized by a sense of authenticity and autonomy as they engage in activities that align with their interests and values.

Children seem to effortlessly navigate the realm of self-discipline.

Immersing themselves in tasks with a level of focus and determination that often adults cannot match.

Their ability to stay committed to activities like video games or learning new skills showcases a remarkable capacity for self-control adults often are not willing to admit due to ego.

Yet, as we transition from observing children's innate self-discipline to the challenges faced by adults, a stark contrast emerges.

Both are addicts in their own right but there is a very nuance detail between the two that makes a world of a difference:

Authenticity

More specifically the difference comes from their inner authenticity - between pursuing activities that bring genuine happiness versus adhering to external expectations while neglecting their individuality ie inauthenticity - highlights the fundamental disparity in self-discipline between children and adults.

While children operate within a framework that enables them to effortlessly stay disciplined on the activities that makes them happy.

Adults often struggle to develop and maintain new habits that align with their most desired life outcomes - in the presence of life circumstances that are not ideal - if given the freedom of choice.

This disparity begs the question: what exactly sets children apart from adults when it comes to self-discipline?

THE 4 PART G.A.M.E. SYSTEM

Have you ever paused to consider the stark contrast between the self-discipline of children engrossed in video games and the struggles many adults face in maintaining focus and determination in pursuing their most desired life outcomes?

Through careful observation: children engaged in video games [unconsciously operate within a specific framework] which makes them natural self-discipline individuals.

While the adults that do not consciously operate within this framework [or aren’t even aware that something like this exist].

Adults constantly face frustration and lack the consistency that is required for the ideal future to actualize.

How many times have you set out to achieve a specific outcome only to have given up due to lack of motivation?

Those that proactively and consciously adopt the G.A.M.E. system:

Rediscover their natural childhood abilities, no longer requires conscious effort as it has been reinstated back into their identity.

Important: consider the interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

While children are often driven by intrinsic motivation [engaging in activities like playing video games out of pure enjoyment and curiosity] - adults may rely more on external motivators such as societal expectations or financial rewards.

The key is to shift from your natural tendencies to focus on Extrinsic Motivators to consciously focusing on Intrinsically Driven Factors From Within.

Understanding how these two different forms directly influence self-discipline is crucial in maximizing the effectiveness of the G.A.M.E. system.

Without further due, let’s dive into each point of this framework and the nuances that occur within the minds of children playing video games that elicit the flow state every human craves and how you can apply it into your life right now.

For context on flow state read: https://www.philosophyofjiu-jitsu.com/p/rediscovering-flow-state-within-jiujitsu-beyond-mats

Gain Clarity

If you do not know exactly what it is you want then you will have zero direction on where to go.

You become a leaf in the wind that is helplessly falling [as your fluctuating emotions and external forces dictate your life outcomes] that are far from the ideal life you wish you had.

Your mind gets preoccupied with nonsense as the world’s agenda is forced upon you which only results in you losing control of your life as it happens right before your eyes.

It is so settle that you will not realize it from day to day…

However, as time naturally runs it’s course and the years past:

You will be left wondering how your life flashed before your eyes and why you never got to collect the life experiences you always dreamt of.

The toll of lacking clarity and self-awareness becomes evident, a cost paid in unfulfilled dreams and missed opportunities.

This is the price you will pay when you do not gain clarity right now.

This is why you MUST gain clarity in order to take back control of the direction of your life in an uncertain future.

By identifying exactly where it is you want to be, you can put together a roadmap to have more clarity of direction while navigating into the unknown future.

With this roadmap you take control of your life by dictating how you will invest your time through daily routine by forming habits that are aligned to the ideal while simultaneously eliminating the habits that move you away.

The #1 challenge you will face is staying consistent while maintaining your ongoing streak to transform a habit into your identity.

Accountability

When you are the only one in the world that knows about your new plans it becomes even easier to give up…

One day you feel super motivated to start these new habits while fantasizing about your desired life experiences.

The next day, you experience the hidden force “The Resistance” which elicits a sequence of self-doubting thoughts that ultimately petrifies you into fear as your mind gives you a never ending list of why it is impossible.

Your mind only cares about your survival and pleasures… and if anything gets in the way of that your Primal Nature kicks in.

Your body interprets your future plans for a new life experience to your mind [emotions backed by logic then back again to emotion in ongoing feedback loop] that you must remain safe where you are and to stay comfortable as if your life depended on it.

Although it may seem like the odds are not in your favor due to this natural evolutionary trait - you can have it working in your favor by leveraging accountability.

If you are very serious - you will stay accountable as if your life depended on the result - this is the only way to achieve your most desired life experiences.

Accountability is a little boy from Thailand training thai boxing twice a day so he can fight to win in his upcoming match for money he can give to his poor family.

Accountability is when you tell your partner with your baby on the way that all living expenses will be covered so she doesn’t have to worry about a thing… so you will make your business successful.

Accountability is when you train jiu-jitsu six days a week for sixty-three weeks straight without a single rest week off because you put your social reputation on the line and if you fail you become the fool that just talks but never practices what he preaches.

There’s a enormous difference between:

1. “I should [engage in ideal’s behavior] to get my most desired life experiences.”

2. “I MUST [engage in ideal’s behavior] to get my most desired life experiences.”

Accountability dictates your actions from should into a MUST.

*Important: do not make the mistake of announce accountability as if you have already achieved the desired outcome. You will feel good sharing the news [without the accomplishment] because your brain believes the result has been actualized. Your brain does not know the difference between reality and imagination - ever wondered why you experience dreams as if it happened in real life?

Mindfulness

Your mind wants to see tangible proof… not be told false promises.

Achieving significant results requires patience while consistency putting in the work towards achieving the desired life outcome.

It becomes a natural part of the process to feel that little to no process has been made so why even continue one might say.

As important as it is to Gain Clarity by identifying the end results:

You must focus on the process instead of expecting an immediate result.

By focusing on tangible metrics [within your control instead of obsessing over what is outside your control - secretly you spiked all the reasons why you will fail] you prove to your mind that you are in fact making progress towards the desired outcome despite it not immediately appearing overnight.

Eliminate distractions by optimizing your work environment so you engage in the ideal’s behavior.

Through presence of mind: focus on the task at hand [as you put into practice the ideal’s behavior] you enter a state of flow where you ultimately start enjoying the process.

Being Mindfulness is extremely important:

You must consciously create a reality and environment where your dopamine receptors are not overloaded with instant gratification… so the only way you can receive dopamine to feel good is by engaging in the ideal’s behavior directly linked to your most desirable life experiences.

The brain’s neurotransmitter “dopamine” are associated with pleasure and reward.

If you do anything that is pleasurable and rewarding you will experience this feel good sensation.

This source becomes sustainable and contributes to your flow state while making daily progress only seen by the trained eye.

While those that seek dopamine through the external world do not feel good doing the “boring” daily actions required to achieve a desired outcome.

With all this in mind we enter the long game where many fall have fallen off…

Endurance

People that still have “motivation” within their vocabulary will recognize a situation where it feels like they have sprinted out of the gate guns blazing.

Only to experience after a period of time of burnt out as they realize actualizing desire life outcomes is a process that is in fact a marathon, not a sprint to see who is the fastest.

It is about actually sustaining your energy for an extended period of time [especially when the reality is that actualizing a significant goal often takes longer than we would like].

With Mindfulness you sustain yourself while participating in this marathon and actually make it to the finish line.

*Especially when you leverage dopamine and access flow state as mentioned above.

By being proactive: you allow yourself to experience this feel good sensation again by engaging in your Ideal Self’s habits and routine.

Want to feel good again?

You do it again.

Make the process the one of your main source of your good emotions [while proactively blocking out other dopamine sources that will potentially derail your progress].

*This does not mean you neglect other areas of your life such as health, relationships, well-being and other areas that bring value into your life as everything interconnects as a ecosystem of positive emotions that contribute to your overall life experience.

Feeling bored?

Engage in the Ideal’s behavior again… making it your main source of feeling good.

Worth mentioning again:

You must consciously create a reality and environment where your dopamine receptors are not overloaded with instant gratification… so the only way you can receive dopamine to feel good is by engaging in the ideal’s behavior directly linked to your most desirable life experiences.

With consistency comes momentum. With momentum comes efficient improvements. Efficient improvements leads to results. Results come with the embodiment of your Ideal Self that has your most desired life outcomes.

This is the way you can remain in the long game to make deep identity level change and ultimately experience any life experience you can imagine.

DEEP IDENTITY-LEVEL CHANGE

You already are self-discipline as it is a natural part of your very existence.

Somewhere during your childhood and adolescence you have lost touch with this birth right gift.

The connotations you’ve associated with specific impactful life events are outdated and not playing into your favor.

It is up to you to uncover these sequence of events to change your relationship with reality.

What happens when you do this?

You relive the child spirit but instead being limited by video games, you have the entire world to play with…

The world becomes the video game played/experienced in real physical life.

By doing the meaningful inner work you regain access to one of life’s essential tools [self-discipline] to accomplish any desired life outcome you can imagine.

The moment you make this critical connection:

You can start the process of building your self-discipline to an unshakeable level.

Opening up an entire world of new possibilities and opportunities you originally thought was deemed impossible, as it was your imagination and strength of your self-discipline that was limited…

See you on the mats,

POJ