How To Actually Decide On Your Big Beautiful Dream By Naming Infinite Games

I am a huge believer in pursuing dreams for two big reasons. One, it prevents regret, which is such a powerful state of sadness. And, two it helps us live each day with a little more vitality. A little more pep in our step.

It doesn’t matter if it’s for work, for play, or anywhere in between. At any given moment in time, we can establish a big dream. And whenever I feel like giving up on mine, I remember these words from poet John Greenleaf Whittie.

“For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.”

Play Infinite Games

In a future episode we will look at a more concrete, practical, step by step filter to decide if a goal qualifies as a big dream or not. 

But for now I just want to share one of the key indicators. 

A big dream should create an infinite game for you. I was trying to think of a good way to describe what I mean by this and I got the urge to see how A.I. would explain this.

I was quite blown away by the response when I said “​​describe to me the importance of playing infinite games when it comes to our well being.”

How A.I. Explains Infinite Games

As the sun rises in the sky and the day begins anew, so too does the game of life. It is a game without end, with no clear winner or loser. It is an infinite game, one that we all must play whether we like it or not. 

And just like any game, there are rules to follow and strategies to employ.

But unlike most games, the rules of life are constantly changing. The playing field shifts and evolves, and the obstacles we face are never the same. To thrive in this game, we must be adaptable, resilient, and creative. 

We must be willing to take risks, to try new things, and to learn from our failures.

This is where playing infinite games comes in. Infinite games are games without a set endpoint. There is no final goal or victory condition. 

Instead, the goal is to keep playing, to keep adapting, and to keep improving. In an infinite game, the focus is on the journey, not the destination.

When we play infinite games, we develop a mindset of growth and progress. We become more resilient and adaptable, better able to navigate the twists and turns of life. 

We learn to embrace uncertainty and to find joy in the process of discovery. And because we are not fixated on a specific outcome, we are more likely to enjoy the journey and to find satisfaction in the small victories along the way.

Playing infinite games is also important for our well-being and vitality. When we are constantly pushing ourselves to improve, we stay mentally and physically engaged. We are less likely to fall into patterns of boredom or apathy, which can lead to depression and other negative emotions. 

We are more likely to be curious, creative, and energized.

So, as the sun sets on another day in the infinite game of life, remember that the journey is what matters most. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and keep playing.

For it is in the playing of the game that we find our purpose, our joy, and our vitality.

Learn How To Dream From Kids

In order to name infinite games you could play for you big dream, we need to be creative. 

But, the number one enemy of creativity is judgment.

Have you ever asked a kid about something they painted, drew, or built? As an adult, you might be tempted to ask something like “what is it?” Or “why did you make it like that?”

Almost every time the child won’t have answer. Or they will just guess because they think there is something they’re supposed to say.

In reality, they don’t have an answer, because, in those states of flow and creativity, they are not able to judge. They just create.

This is the mindset we want to have when we try to decide on our own goals and dreams. When we try to think of infinite games. 

A kid wants to “fly to the moon, play hockey, or be like Elsa.” We can use less extreme examples, like children want to “be a shopkeeper, youtuber, or start a bead bracelet company.” 

Simply put, kids want to play infinite games.

More Dreaming, Less Thinking

So, even if you are not a kid, how could you think more like one? How can you wonder like someone in pre-school about things you could do? One of the ways to help bring us back into this state of mind is to try our best to reflect back, or find artifacts that remind us what we did dream about as a little kid.

Reflecting on childhood dreams that were abandoned can help bring about enduring interests that we may want to look into again. Or it will at least remind us what types of things we can imagine.

So there are actually two activities that can help us at this stage in figuring out our one thing.

Take a deep dive into one, or more of your childhood dreams.

• What was something you wanted to be when you grew up?
• Use who, what, when, why and how to paint as detailed a picture as possible of what you think this could look like?
• Why do you think you picked this?
• Define what success would have been.
• Does any of this translate to current, present day aspirations, or give hints to things  you might like to do in your future?

Dream Like A Kid Again (Fifteen Times)

• Push yourself to brainstorm fifteen, infinite games, or goals that you could potentially pursue today. If you turned off your adult thinking brain and went with your heart, or gut to think of 15 dreams you could chase what would they be?

It Won’t Be Easy

Now I know these activities can be quite difficult. 

Digging up past memories may be challenging in the sense that you can’t remember. It might also be challenging because you have had to live with regret that you didn’t pursue something.

But the fun fact is that we are shifting back into declaring an infinite game to play which will help us move past all of that regret anyways. 

And it can be extremely challenging to think of fifteen things you could do. But that’s the point, it’s supposed to be challenging. 

Ask A Friend

One of the little tricks with exercises like this can be to have a conversation with someone else. An enjoyable chat about possibilities, childhood, dreams and goals can pull a lot more out of us than we can imagine.

So ask a pal to talk with you if you’re stuck in any of these areas. If you can’t find someone, just reach out and we’ll make it happen. But please don’t tell everyone because I’m super busy. Haha. 

But, if you will cherish such a conversation and you don’t have anyone else in your life to help you, just let me know.

Thanks for reading. Your pal,
Justin @JustTries 

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