When our kids were younger, Friday nights were dedicated to video games. Pizza arrived, consoles powered on, and we played for hours. We called it “Mario time.” The kids always outplayed me, but the memories mattered more than the score.
Over time, I began to notice the similarities between playing a video game and navigating the game of life. Whether you are trying to save Princess Peach or save yourself, play the game like Super Mario.
Let me show you how. “Here we go”:
𝟭. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁
World 1 feels simple. By World 8, everything accelerates and one mistake can send you back. Progress is not supposed to feel familiar. If it does, you are not advancing.
“Okey Dokey”
𝟮. 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿-𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Mushrooms, fire flowers, and stars shift the odds. In life, power-ups are skills, mentors, self-care, discipline, and trusted community. Ignore them and the world is unforgiving. Invest in them and you gain compounding leverage.
“Mamma Mia”
𝟯. 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻
Every player mistimes jumps, falls into traps, and faces fire. You do not abandon the controller. You select Continue. Resilience outperforms perfection.
“All you, it’s all you, baby!”
𝟰. 𝗖𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
Coins have utility, but they are not the purpose. Titles, salaries, likes, and status function the same way. Accumulation is not achievement. Do not confuse metrics with meaning. Save princess Peach!
“Woo hoo, just what I needed”
𝟱. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀
Wrong job. Wrong environment. Wrong season. Backtracking is not regression if it leads you to a better level. Strategic retreat is progress in disguise.
“You got it”
𝟲. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗲𝗿
Competition, systems, doubt, and fear do not disappear. You outgrow them. The castle is not supposed to welcome you. It exists to test preparation, courage, and capacity.
“Oh no”
𝟳. 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿
Mario becomes faster, smarter, and more strategic with every castle. Your version of Princess Peach might be integrity, confidence, purpose, or freedom. Pursuit strengthens the person pursuing.
“Here I come”
If life feels chaotic, faster, louder, and more demanding, you are not failing. You are approaching something meaningful. Pressure is the signal.
“Oh yeah, way to go”
Keep leveling up.
Keep collecting power-ups.
Keep moving forward.
“Wahoo”
Your next world is one jump away.
“Thanks for playing my game”
