Playing the long game enables us to better combat adversity

Do you play the long game? Or is the short game more your speed? Have you ever heard of the long game? In what context? What does it mean to you?

Simply put, it means thinking beyond the immediate. In business, it means holding the vision of end results while navigating the obstacles in the immediate future. In personal lives, it could mean understanding long term goals over immediate gratification as it pertains to health, relationships and other personal objectives.

When people play the long game, they are less likely to give up in the face of current adversity. The vision for the outcome is so strong that it motivates the person to withstand difficulties along the way. The payoff in the end is worth the pain in the present.

In our modern-day, fast-paced world, this approach to life’s goals is considered old school or irrelevant. Some even scoff at the idea. Patience and due diligence are often underrated and underestimated.

Whether you’re building a business or a relationship, playing the long game may serve you well. If you choose the other route, you may be tempted to give up a good thing before it’s had time to come to full fruition. Many people who have made this choice suffer deep regret. They feel that they missed their chance by being too impulsive and impatient.

It is true that sometimes it is the wisest thing to throw in the towel. At times, it’s better to cut your losses and move on than stay with a sinking ship. But how do you know? This plagues many people.

Learning to trust your own gut instinct and intuition is the absolute best route to knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. Yes, that’s a shout out to Kenny Rogers. You develop this superpower by being quiet and reflective on a regular basis.

You learn to trust yourself, and that frees you to navigate life in your own unique way.