Yesterday, I conducted a workshop about the Greatness Through Games framework and everything was going fine, until we reached ‘The Broken World’ phase of the framework.
Something about the phrasing of that phase triggered an open hearted outpouring from a participant about how covid had ruined their livelihood. It was a touching speech that I empathized with, but at the moment, I could do nothing to help.
Today, after Maya’s went to sleep, I started thinking about what I could have done in their situation – and the answer came from the weirdest of places – 3 text files in my computer.
I’m not kidding.
Scratch, Itch & Lich are three ‘rough work’ text pads I work with in www.Obsidian.md. I had chosen the names because the end with the same sound and they were funny, but surprisingly, they’re also three legit approaches to deal with any problem.
They’re also great ways to look at personal and professional growth.
Here’s what I mean:
Imagine that your problem is like an itching sensation.
The ‘Scratch‘ approach would be to… scratch the place that’s itching i.e. do something about the problem. That’s the straightforward way to grow – do something.
The ‘Itch‘ approach would be to let it itch. Grin and bear the problem with stoic… stoicism. That’s another way to grow if you’re looking to test patience, tolerance, restraint or self-control.
And then there’s the lich approach.
In Dungeons & Dragons, a tabletop role playing game, liches are spellcasters who seek to defy death by magical means. They are powerful, deadly monsters, who terrify adventurers and are absolutely and unconditionally cool.
(If that makes no sense to you, don’t worry. Read on.)
What “lich” means in our context, is to reframe the dire situation we’re facing into a game – a fantastic quest (the growth we seek) to go on where we are heroes (surprisingly, a gender neutral term) fighting epic monsters (lich) to get awesome loot (rewards).
Basically, make believe that you’re in a game so that dealing with that problem and growing as a result is more fun.
Look.. I’ll level with you. Most of the time, in life, we’re faced with things that we HAVE to do. But, we can regain a bit of control, happiness and satisfaction in choosing how we handle the task.
We can find the wiggle room in the rigid limitations that have been placed on us. And the best way I know of doing that is by turning it into a game, making it fun and making it my own.
Now, I’ve gotta get going – have a deck to finish up.
Will catch up tomorrow.
Over and out.
Arvindh “Dungeon Master” Sundar
P.s. If you’re forwarding this to someone, send them to https://puttheplayerfirst.com/list/