Introduction
Emotional control is a fascinating and complex topic, particularly relevant in the context of fighting games. Many people struggle with emotional control, both in gaming and in real life. The title “Fighting Games Expose Your Lack of Emotional Control” holds a lot of truth. If you can’t handle the emotional triggers of a fighting game, it’s likely that you have challenges with emotional control in real life as well.
The Impact of Losing in Fighting Games
Consider this scenario: you’re playing a fighting game and you start losing more than winning. The first type of quitter will immediately stop playing because they can’t bear the feeling of losing. Others might try to improve a bit, but if they continue to lose, they quit again. While this behavior is acceptable in a video game with nothing at stake, it reflects a deeper issue if it persists despite a genuine interest in the game.
Fighting games can be an excellent way to learn emotional control. If you enjoy a game and want to keep playing it, but are unwilling to take losses and learn from them, it indicates a lack of emotional maturity and intelligence.
The Learning Curve and Emotional Maturity
Many people, despite loving a game, will quit if they can’t win consistently. This is particularly true in fighting games and is a sign of low emotional intelligence and control. It’s not something to be ashamed of; it takes time to develop emotional maturity. I personally struggled with emotional control until I was around 35 years old. Accepting losses was difficult because my ego came first. I blamed my losses on various external factors instead of recognizing my need to improve.
Ego and Accountability
Ego can cloud your ability to reason and accept that you need to practice and improve. There’s always someone better, and acknowledging that is crucial. Some players might have the same skills and experience as you but still be better due to natural talent. Accepting this fact is a part of emotional maturity. You’re likely not the smartest or the dumbest person in the world, and recognizing this makes everything easier.
The Blame Game
For a long time, I blamed others for my failures, not just in video games but in life. This lack of accountability is a common human trait, but it’s important to evolve past it. If you rage quit or avoid challenging opponents in fighting games, you’re stunting your growth. You remain in a bubble, fighting only those at or below your skill level to feel a sense of accomplishment. True growth comes from facing and overcoming tougher challenges.
The Reality of Competition
In any competitive field, including fighting games, there will always be people who invest more time and effort into becoming better. If you want to be good, you need to grind, work hard, and earn your skills by losing to better players. This process teaches emotional control, maturity, and intelligence. Recognizing your weaknesses and working on them is the first step to improvement.
Embracing the Challenge
People often hate losing to characters or strategies they deem unfair. For instance, in fighting games, there’s always frustration about moves perceived as cheap or overpowered. However, competitive gaming is about exploiting every allowed tactic to win. Smart players use top-tier characters and moves to gain an advantage, and there’s no honor lost in doing so.
The No-Honor Myth
Competition has no room for arbitrary rules of honor. If a tactic is allowed within the game’s rules, it’s fair game. High-level competition involves bending the rules to their limit without breaking them. Understanding this is essential for emotional maturity in competitive environments.
Conclusion
Fighting games are a powerful tool for developing emotional control and intelligence. They teach you to handle losses, recognize your weaknesses, and continuously strive for improvement. Emotional intelligence starts with accountability. By holding yourself accountable for your actions and outcomes, you set yourself on the path to becoming emotionally mature.
Understanding these principles and applying them not only in games but also in life can significantly enhance your personal growth. Embrace the challenge, accept your flaws, and strive to improve. This journey towards emotional control will make you a better player and a more emotionally intelligent person.