“When we play a game, we volunteer to be challenged. No one forces us to try to solve a game’s puzzles, or defeat another team, or reach a certain score. Because we are fully in control of whether we accept a game’s challenge, we don’t experience anxiety or depression when we play— despite the very real possibility of loss or defeat. Our primary experience is of agency, not of threat.” – Jane McGonigal
4 steps to develop a ‘gameful’ mindset at work:
Embark on a quest of self-efficacy
“Self-efficacy means having confidence in the concrete skills and abilities required to solve specific problems or achieve particular goals. It is usually context-specific: you might have high self-efficacy at work but low selfefficacy about public speaking or losing weight. Self-efficacy is the crucial difference between having lots of motivation but failing to follow through, and successfully converting motivation into consistent and effective action. With high self-efficacy, you are more likely to take actions that help you reach your goals, even if those actions are difficult or painful. You also engage with difficult problems longer, without giving up. But with low self-efficacy, no matter how motivated you are, you’re less likely to take positive action— because you lack belief in your ability to make a difference in your own life.” – Jane McGonigal
To build you self-efficacy, seek out and complete quests – simple, daily actions that get you closer to reaching a bigger goal. Just like a hero in a video game, you can use each quest as an opportunity to gain experience points and develop new skills. These experience points (XP) give you the confidence to take on larger and larger quests.
Keep score
“Keeping score will highlight your progress …and to get a deeper understanding of your own play. This has been true of games as long as humans have played them. In fact, my favorite argument in favor of personal scorekeeping was written over one hundred years ago, in a 1914 issue of Baseball Magazine. “The Pleasure and Profit of Keeping Score” was an editorial that strongly encouraged baseball fans to fill out their own scorecards during professional games. Track every run, hit, and error, it argued, in order to better understand, remember, and enjoy the game:
Most spectators watch a great play with an interest, which, however intense, is forgotten in the thriller of the next inning. They leave the grounds with a hazy idea of a rather enjoyable afternoon, whose main features are scarce refreshed by reading press accounts of them some hours later. Keeping score remedies all this. It burns the play into memory. It greatly increases the spectator’s knowledge of the game. . . . And, best of all, it is a pleasure in itself.” – Jane McGonigal
Keep track of the experience points that you gain throughout the day (i.e. the relative difficulty of the tasks that you complete). For example, journal in the morning: 10XP, read 10 pages of a book: 12 XP, draft a proposal: 25 XP (XP = experience points).
Recruit allies
“Having social support makes it easier for us to achieve our goals. It’s not just that our friends and family help us directly by offering their time, advice, or resources. Medical research shows that our bodies respond to social support in dramatic ways, getting stronger and more resilient every time someone helps us.” – Jane McGonigal
Call a co-worker to ask for help. Ask a friend to join you at a coffee shop to brainstorm ideas for your next project. Tell your spouse about the challenges you’re facing at work.
Search for power-ups
Examples of Power-ups: “Look out a window for thirty seconds (mental). Hold my husband’s hand for six seconds (social). Eat ten walnuts, because they’re good for my brain (physical). Send a text message to my mom (social). Listen to a song from one of my favorite Bollywood movies (mental). Do ten push-ups even if I’m exhausted (physical).” – Jane McGonigal
“You are stronger than you know. You are surrounded by potential allies. You are the hero of your own story.” – Jane McGonigal
Review 1
Overview:
“SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully” by Jane McGonigal is an insightful examination of the application of game thinking in tackling real-world problems. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and game design, McGonigal presents an empowering approach to enhancing resilience, improving quality of life, and achieving personal growth.
Key Concepts:
- The Power of Games: McGonigal asserts that the principles that make games universally engaging can be harnessed to confront real-life obstacles. Games provide controlled environments that allow for safe experimentation, development of problem-solving skills, and resilience in the face of adversity.
- Living Gamefully: The essence of living gamefully, as explained by the author, is integrating traits such as resilience, creativity, determination, and optimism into everyday life – traits that are often exhibited when playing games.
- SuperBetter Method: McGonigal introduces the ‘SuperBetter’ method, a gameful way of living that involves setting goals, seeking out allies, identifying bad guys (obstacles or hindrances) and employing power-ups (analogous to health points or boosts in games, these are activities that provide an emotional or physical lift).
Review:
“SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully” presents a compelling blend of research-backed concepts, personal anecdotes, and practical exercises that engage the reader. Jane McGonigal convincingly illustrates how adopting a ‘gameful’ mindset can enhance personal resilience and foster positive life changes.
The book shines in its unique approach to self-improvement. Rather than pitching a silver bullet solution, it promotes enhancing resilience and personal growth through the immense power of games. Whether you’re a gamer or not, the principles and methods detailed are universally applicable and highly actionable.
McGonigal’s storytelling skills all through the book aid in a substantial way in comprehending complex concepts and motivate to adopt ‘Superbetter’ strategies. The case studies and testimonials included further reiterate the effectiveness of her recommendations, adding credibility to her claims.
However, some readers might find the scientific and academic references a bit overwhelming, though they certainly cement the author’s credibility and emphasize the depth of her research.
In conclusion, “SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully” is a transformative guide that brilliantly demonstrates how game mechanics can be applied to real life in a beneficial manner. For those seeking a whimsical yet scientific approach to life improvement, this book serves as a fascinating read that encourages a more resilient, creative, and ‘gameful’ approach to life’s challenges.
Review 2
SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully by Jane McGonigal is a book that shows you how to use the principles of games to improve your well-being and resilience. The book is based on the author’s own experience of recovering from a brain injury by creating a game called SuperBetter, which has since helped hundreds of thousands of people overcome various challenges, such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and stress. The book explains the science behind how games can boost your physical, mental, emotional, and social health, and teaches you how to design your own gameful quests and power-ups. The book is a fun and inspiring guide for anyone who wants to live more creatively and courageously. The book is rated 4.04 out of 5 on Goodreads and has 480 pages. You can get the book on Amazon or visit the SuperBetter website to join the online community and play the game.
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