The Past is a Different Video Game

You’re probably familiar with the C. S. Lewis quote, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” If, like me, things get a bit out of hand from time to time, referring to the quote is a great reminder of where to adjust your focus.

What if I told you there’s a better reframe; or at least a twist you can add to it?

That’s right. There’s a complimentary, or even better reframe. The idea comes from Scott Adam’s book, “REFRAME YOUR BRAIN” — and it’s a story he’s been sharing on the podcast circuit. Here it is. What if you just spawned into your life right now? Picture it, you’ve just respawned into right where you are — right now. This very moment. Your life is a video game.

Ask yourself, “What character am I playing? And “What resources do I have at this point in the game?” Maybe you’ve just had a run of bad luck recently? No matter. Tell yourself you’ve just respawned today. You are starting the game from here. No past. The past is another video game. You have no emotional ties to any crap from the past — you’ve respawned into yourself at the age you are now and in the place you are now.

Pretty powerful, huh?

Use the reframe by itself, or use it along with the C. S. Lewis quote. You’ll completely rearrange your brain in real-time. Try it. What do you have to lose?