Level Up

Level up:

It’s a catch phrase we use to describe the process of moving to a new (and presumably better) stage of life. It’s a saying that’s linguistically tied to the idea of game playing—especially video games. Without realizing it, we all assume ourselves to be on a certain level. And indeed, society creates a generalized idea of levels so that we have very little to gauge our advancement in the game other than by these notions of what it means to play successfully (defined by the number or quality of material acquisitions one can amass.) We hear someone talk about “leveling up” by acquiring everything from a new dress to new partner, but what about spiritual leveling up? What about real evolution? Where are my people talking about leveling up because they overcame a trigger or decided to no longer speak negatively to themselves, or started loving their partner more?

It’s not enough for our “avatar” to be pretty; we need it to be strong. The whole point of reaching a new game level is to be able to conquer new challenges. Let’s say the next evolutionary level in your life was just around the corner—so close you could see it! Every day you watched and observed the people operating and playing on this level. You noticed how they walked and talked. You noticed their clothing. Let’s say they even all wore the same dress. Your life was consumed with observation and you finally felt ready to enter that stage, so you managed to get yourself a dress just like theirs and entered the level, proudly looking and sounding like the others—so you thought. When you got closer to the conversations, you felt unprepared and lacking in skill. They were conversing about topics and living lives beyond what you had learned during your time playing the game, and you realized there wasn’t a chance of being able to play with them at all, much less successfully. You had been so interested in what was happening in more advanced levels, you didn’t acquire the strength or skill set to beat your own.

A new dress might be a useful prop (I love fashion!) but not a sustainable strategy for the new level. Fake-it-til-you-make-it can only take you so far as you are almost always required to prove yourself in life through the demonstration of consistent character. There really is no substitute for time. Trying to move on to anything new without fully experiencing the old is a farce—most can see right through it when you haven’t done the work. What is the work? Well, sometimes it looks like grieving, sometimes singing, sometimes being silent and holding our tongue (or in the realm of social media, our fingers.) Almost always it involves compassion, which is a way of tenderly thinking about something that can create new pathways in the brain. Your life-game is unique and so are its levels. Rather than compare yourself to anyone else’s journey or progress, center in on your breath. Ask your higher self what you still need to learn on your current level so that your evolutionary journey may be one of joyful challenge-- accepting new levels and overcoming your own devils.

Then go get that dress.