The infinite game of health and wellness

A quick thought from another gem of a book by Simon Sinek

Jonas Mohamadi

Simon Sinek, author of the breakthrough books Start With Why, and Leaders Eat Last is back again with The Infinite Game.

Although the message may be catered towards business strategy, organizational goals, and culture, it instantly struck a chord with me for health and wellness.

Finite games are ones with clear winners and losers. They have set rules to follow. There is a clear ending.

Infinite games on the other hand have adaptable rules, no clear ending, and the players come and go.

A lot of us fall into the trap of making our lifestyle choices a finite game. Treating them as the end itself, when in reality they are simply a means to an end.

Think of all the strict diets, and flashy new workouts there are. Some of which unintentionally put us into feeling like the “winner” or “loser.” This is all or nothing thinking at it’s finest.

Although these diets and exercise programs may have their place, I think it’s far more beneficial to think about the long game — the infinite game. Bringing that sense of awareness, effort, and patience to our desired change.

• What does success look like to me?

• Why is making this change so important to me?

• Am I doing this for a cause bigger than myself?

• How will I react to whatever life throws at me?

• Which habits can I realistically follow on a consistent basis?

• Will I commit to showing up to the best of my ability every single day?

No matter what we do, we have to realize that health and wellness is more than just a number on a scale, a certain body fat percentage, or how many push ups we can do.

Let’s stop thinking in terms of all or nothing and winner or loser when it comes to our health and fitness journeys.

Let’s start focusing on our identity, our vision, what is in our control, what we can do, lean into our strengths, prove to ourselves how confident we are, and use consistency to leave a legacy we will smile at whenever we look back.

The infinite game goes on.