02/15/01

Tips To Ease Defeat

    Game Over, You Lose! Appears in big bold letters over the TV screen and you get angry, so angry to a point that you almost want to take your TV and hurl it through the nearest wall. Yep, that's defeat for ya. We have all experienced it at least one point in our life. Some have experienced it more then others, while some will probably never experience it again. Yet still, it lingers out there in time and space waiting to screw you out of victory. Defeat, what a cruel thing. Yet it's still a way of life, and wether or not you like it you will have to face it one time or another. How about that time when you bought a lotto ticket and it turn out to be a loser: Defeat. Or how about that time you launched a full missile assault on a neighboring country only to get the rest of the world angry at you, so angry that they launch missiles of their own at you and your country is destroyed: Defeat. Last and not least that time when you and a friend got into a good game and he beat the snot right out of you: Defeat. one way or another, whether it be the lotto, World War III, or even a intense game with your friend, it's all examples of defeat.

    What is defeat though? We all have experienced it but not one of us have the slightest idea what the damn word means. Well the dictionary states that defeat is "To be overcome in a contest" or better stated "to be won over." Yet the dictionary also states that victory is "A success or Triumph over a enemy." So we cleared it up, in every contest there must be the defeated and the victor. Yet defeat and victory seem like more meaningful words then just success and to be won over. Come on people! Life is like a contest, always striving to find out who will come out victorious, and who will be defeated. Yet in the gaming world, a contest is everything. In the gaming world you are there for one reason and won reason only, to win.

    While playing a video game, you have but a simple goal to win. Tournaments you have a goal, to win. Inviting family members over for no reason but to beat the sorry piss out of them, yep same goal. TO WIN! Yet in every situation there is a loser.  The guy who happens to lose. Sure there's' nice ways to put that you lost. The guy who won might shake your hand, or he might say "good game." However we all know what he's really saying... "I'm better then you are." What do we do? We can ether A: shake his hand and go to the next abandoned room and cry our eyes out. B: Throw a attitude and yell and scream till we have no more air left to use. Or C: Sit there look the winner in the eyes and send a spark of fear down his/her spine making him know that your out to get them. There all good ideas and almost everyone has used them. Yet still whether we like it or not they beat us, Period. Can you change that?...NO! Yet what can you do to ease that weight of defeat? Well sit down and let Doctor Jake teach ya some very simple steps to ease defeat, believe me, they come in handy.


    When you get beaten, try to count to ten repeatedly in your head. Now why should you do this, what will this help accomplish right? Well lets put the fact that you might be bad in math besides us now. First this will not only help you take attention off your lose, but also ease yourself and help you get your mind more focused and clearer. Sure it will not only help this, but it might also help you review for that next math test in the future. Keep it in mind, counting to ten repeativly is one of the best stress reducer's on the market.


    A good way to ease the idea of defeat is to go on a long walk. Now why should you go on a walk? What will that accomplish? Well walking to some people could be a chore, while to others, they walk simply because it makes them feel good. However a scientific fact is clear that in all cases when you walk your mind gets clearer and you think better. Think about it, when you walk you not only get to enjoy the air and the fresh sent of fog and car exhaust, but you can also learn from your mistakes while taking a walk. A good example could be that fighting game you lost. When your walking think about what you did wrong, and then think about what you can do to fix that mistake. This way next time your playing that game, or more then ready to lay the smack down on that opponents constant repetitive attack.


    STOP! Don't throw the controller! Put down that console and step away! A good way to ease defeat is to not play the game! now don't take this as to not play the game at all. Yet if you get beaten a good strategy is to stop and take a good 10 minute break or relax for a while. now why is this a good idea? When you play the game more and more, and your beaten more and more, your mind gets into a state that you will never win, your a failure, you are the worst gamer in the world! Well when you step back and take a breather you think better, take that mind! you can relax and think clearer and think of nothing more then the sheer idea that your going to win.


    A good way to ease defeat is to stop defeat before it happens. When I say this, it don't mean create a religion based on that game and do nothing but that game or don't play that game at all. I mean be prepared. When your more prepared your chances of winning are higher then when your not prepared. Say your friend calls you up and he just received his brand new copy of only the best fighter in the world...Tekken Tag! Sure your eyes get all wide and all thoughts of DOA get erased from your brain. Yet remember, when your friend comes over to play ya in one on one competition, remember your friend has the game, and you don't. So don't expect to win. yet if your the type of person who wants to win, and you don't know a thing about the game. A good way to win is to use the same move over and over again. Practice makes perfect, and if you can master that kick, then your already to go.


    A good way to ease defeat is to do something else for a short while. Say you just got beaten in your favorite game and you don't know what to do.  Should you continue on that game despite the fact that you just lost it, or should you just relax and go hop onto the Internet or watch the boob tube for a while. The choice is yours, but for all the people out there who have any idea what I'm talking about in this article, you should do the second thing and do something else like watch TV! This way you not only get a chance to relax and clear your mind, but also all ideas and thoughts of losing are somewhat erased from your memory.


    A good way to ease defeat is expect to be defeated. Now why expect to be defeated? What does that do anyway? Well when you go into a game for the first time or even the hundredth time a good way to ease defeat is to expect it. Remember, never underestimate your opponent. This way when your defeated, it doesn't hurt as much as when you thought you were a invincible gamer with no chance of loosing. Defeat will feel more and more ok for you this way. Especially when the person that's facing you is thinking they are the god of gaming.


    My last advice to you is to realize it's a game. Just because you lost doesn't mean you will never win again. Soon you will have your day of victory and that person will have their day of shame and defeat. Remember all's fair in love and war. So just ease up and relax. Maybe that person is better then you in that one game, but when you step up and take action and play them in a game your good at. This my friend is the best way to ease defeat.


    There you have it, some good steps to ease your lose in whatever game your playing. Take it from the master of the art of losing. These steps work, try them today. I would strongly urge you to print this page right now if you commonly lose. Trust me on this. Well that's all from the Doc.

                                               

-Jake

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