In recent articles, I explained several perspectives on solving our problems. Today, I will explain them in more detail with examples.
How to make our lives easier
Sometimes, we want to make our lives easier. Hard problems often bother us. For example, we might be in a state of desiring to be free but being unable to. We might want money to be independent but stagnate. These difficulties in life make us lose hope.
On the other hand, we sometimes experience suddenly getting the hang of a thing. Examples are riding a bicycle or playing a game. With a slight change in approach, it suddenly becomes possible to clear it.
Perspectives on our lives would be one of them. Looking at our problems from another angle sometimes gives us a solution and makes our lives easier.
Chess is an example. Viewing from above makes it easier to understand the overall situation and manipulate the pieces. It will be hard to win if we view it from the king’s eyes while others look from a top-down perspective.
Perspectives on making our lives easier
It is the same with our lives. We are playing the game called life. Viewing things from an appropriate angle makes our lives easier.
However, we don’t know what perspectives we can use or how to use them.
Today, I will introduce them with examples of games. This might make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Three perspectives
We can look at our problems differently based on our perspectives. There are multiple angles, as follows:
- The monistic perspective is the problem-solving way that we try to find the cause and deal with it. This is the screen angle of Super Mario Bros. We look at Mario—ourselves—objectively and control it according to circumstances. It is easier to understand the reasons for events and causes. However, if there are many enemies and obstacles, it suddenly becomes difficult to play. This is suitable for science or technology development.
- The dualistic perspective is the problem-solving way that we think there are two contradictory aspects and we balance them. This is Mario Kart’s screen view. We balance left or right and proceed. Although identifying causes and controlling others is difficult, we can go forward at our own pace as long as we have direction. This is suitable for individual happiness and ways of life.
- The trilistic perspective is the problem-solving way that we think there are three contradictory elements and we balance them. This is the perspective of chess or playing RTS (real-time strategy) games, such as Age of Empires. It is easier to find the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. Although it confuses our values, we can win socially. This is suitable for tactical things, such as making money, business, war, or governance.
Let me explain them below.
The monistic perspective
First, the monistic perspective is the screen view of Super Mario Bros. We ask ourselves, ‘Why did I fail?’ and think about the cause. That leads us to the solution.
In Super Mario Bros., we look at ourselves as Mario objectively. We find what items make Mario’s power-ups and what enemies are harmful. We analyze their locations, movements, and characteristics. Then, based on the analysis, we decide how to act next time.
Super Mario Bros. is the game to find the best way to clear troubles. We can find it easier because items and enemies are not so complicated.
This is the monistic problem-solving method. We find the causes and analyze them. That gives us a solution.
The limits of the monistic perspective
However, this perspective is hard to solve complicated problems, such as finding a good way of life or happiness. This is because there are so many factors that influence our problems.
Imagine the situation: 100 enemies surround us. These enemies move unpredictably. We get hurt many times.
In such a situation, finding the cause is extremely difficult. It is natural that continuous failure makes us hesitate to take action and be afraid of taking new actions.
In other words, the monistic perspective causes fear toward the unknowns and losses. This is unavoidable as long as we use this perspective. It means that if we use another perspective, we can break through these problems.
The dualistic perspective
Second, the dualistic perspective is the screen angle of Mario Kart. We focus on ‘Left or right, which side do I have to lean more on?’ This balance leads us to the solution.
In Mario Kart, we look at this world mainly subjectively. This allows us to control ourselves based on our judgments and circumstances.
This perspective frees us from caring about our position and anxiety about the future. This is because we cannot see others’ ranks or futures.
How to see the world
We know many factors influence the future. Just by shifting the balance slightly to the right, the trajectory of both ours and others can change significantly. In other words, we understand that we don’t know how the future unfolds. The more chaotic the situation, the less predictable the consequences of our actions.
In addition, we don’t care about finding the best way. A reasonable way is enough. This makes us relax and focus on the current moderate balance.
This is the dualistic problem-solving method. We find two contradictory aspects and balance them based on our judgment. That gives us a solution. This works well for solving our individual matters, such as ways of life or happiness.
Of course, this doesn’t suit tactical thinking or creating a specialty. However, this would be the main style for people with individuality.
The trilistic perspective
Finally, the trilistic perspective is the view of chess or playing RTS (real-time strategy) games, such as the Age of Empires series and other war games. We focus on how to deploy our resources and enemies’. The focus on ourselves is not important. That leads us to the solution.
In chess or RTS games, we look at our resources objectively and deploy them as our troops. Of course, our resources include ourselves. However, we can take ourselves out of the screen. Sometimes, it is enough for us to sit still in the royal castle. As kings, we focus on leading specific resources while ignoring ourselves to defeat the enemy.
This allows us to find not only our strengths, weaknesses, and their balance, but also the enemy’s ones. We can make a strategy to defeat the enemy based on this information.
This is the trilistic problem-solving method. We divide one thing into three elements. They symbolize our resources. We can find stronger and weaker parts. Then, we create tactics based on the information. That gives us a solution.
This works well for competition or governance, including managing business, making money, or achieving social success.
The method that excludes empathy
In this perspective, we don’t have to use empathy. For example, when we play chess, we don’t need to imagine the pawn’s emotions. Perhaps he feels, ‘Why do I have to die?’ However, we, as commanders, don’t need to care about such things. We know that there is meaning in their death. This perspective allows us to command them as a piece without being emotional.
Of course, this sometimes causes trouble. Betrayal of the pawn is an example. Although we can use them emotionlessly, they are still humans.
That may be why a capable leader is also prone to facing rebellion by his subordinates. Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte are examples. Although they can sacrifice resources effectively, that power is emotionless.
This perspective helps us achieve social success but often makes us lose our humanity.
Conclusion
They are perspectives we can use.
Looking at our problems from another angle makes our lives easier.
This might make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
