At its core
The Forgotten Game is all about life and the fact that life is a game and we’ve forgotten that – Joshua French.
Designed by Joshua French, this game is, in his own words, “the playful approach to mindfulness”. The ”game” imparts upon its “players” a self-awareness tool – it offers a way of adjusting our perceptions and translating our experiences into a more positive and mindful now, a way to start enjoying the present moment, now.
TFG – INTRODUCTION VIDEO
The game Itself
French’s videobook is broken down into seven chapters. The first videobook, entitled “remembering the game”, explains the game’s premise: “find something to enjoy about this moment, just now, this moment“ … and repeat.
The game is played by looking at the present moment as if it were a “grand buffet” on offer where the objective is to choose what you enjoy. Interestingly, Joshua points out that this enjoyment can come from two sources: the presence of something (warmth, a beautiful thing to look at, etc) or the absence of something (pain, hunger, etc). What we choose to take from the buffet is entirely at our own discretion and perception.
Through playing the game we can level-up to a new found momentum: by not resisting what is, you’re accepting what is, which quickly moves into enjoyment of what is… “and from this two friendly impulses arrive – intuition and inspiration.“
The Forgotten Game Videobook: Chapter 1 (Remembering the game)
The Forgotten Game Videobook: Chapter 2 (Doubts and Difficulties)
The Forgotten Game Videobook: Chapter 3 (Benefits)
The Forgotten Game Videobook: Chapter 4 (Tips)
The Forgotten Game Videobook: Chapter 5 (Research)
The Forgotten Game Videobook: Chapter 6 (Characters)
The Forgotten Game Videobook: Chapter 7 (Other Games)
Tougherthan takeaway
Mindfulness is a practise, the pursuit of happiness in every moment, the act of focussing your attention solely on the present moment, the art of staying in the here. I believe mindfulness is referred to as a “practise” because it is an active choice instead of a passive one – it requires a consciousness, a desire, a want to be in the now. What we take out of life is entirely up to us, entirely personal and non-dependant, entirely a “Grand Buffet” of our own perception, we can choose presence or we can choose preoccupation. There is always a choice being made, even in not making one, and thus it is fact that we can indeed choose joy even if it takes a lifetime of practise.
– A favourite author of mine, Glennon Doyle, referring to another practise aptly posed that even if it takes a lifetime to achieve that’s ok because that’s exactly what we’ve got.