Play The Game
All the world is a stage. To perform well, you must develop the range to play many parts.
The quality of the game depends on the spirit in which it is played.
Two Navigation Dimensions
Where are you in the game? Two questions locate you:
- Which act of life? (Life Stage)
- Which phase of the journey? (Hero's Cycle)
The 7 Acts of Life
| Act | Stage | Age | Core Challenge | Key Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Child | 0-12 | Foundation | How to learn, who to trust |
| 2 | Student | 12-22 | Identity | What to study, who to become |
| 3 | Worker | 22-35 | Independence | Career path, how to earn |
| 4 | Partner | 25-45 | Connection | Who to commit to, how to love |
| 5 | Parent | 30-55 | Leadership | How to raise, what to pass on |
| 6 | Elder | 55-75 | Wisdom | How to mentor, what matters |
| 7 | Legacy | 75+ | Integration | How to let go, what remains |
The 7 Phases of the Journey
Every act contains its own hero's journey. The cycle repeats at each stage.
| Phase | Name | Experience | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call | Awareness of need | What's calling me to change? |
| 2 | Threshold | Crossing into unknown | What must I leave behind? |
| 3 | Trials | Tests, allies, enemies | Who helps? Who blocks? |
| 4 | Abyss | Darkest moment | What must die for me to grow? |
| 5 | Transformation | Death and rebirth | Who am I becoming? |
| 6 | Return | Coming back changed | What do I bring back? |
| 7 | Mastery | Integration, teaching | How do I pass this on? |
The Navigation Matrix
Find yourself: Life Stage × Journey Phase = Your current position.
| Call | Threshold | Trials | Abyss | Transform | Return | Mastery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child | Wonder | First school | Learning basics | First failure | Finding strengths | Confidence | Ready for more |
| Student | Passion spark | Leaving home | Exams, peers | Identity crisis | Finding path | Graduation | Skill foundation |
| Worker | Career calling | First job | Competition | Burnout/firing | Pivot/reinvent | New role | Domain expertise |
| Partner | Attraction | Commitment | Conflict | Betrayal/loss | Forgiveness | Renewed bond | Deep partnership |
| Parent | New life | Responsibility | Sleepless years | Teen rebellion | Letting go | Empty nest | Family wisdom |
| Elder | Legacy calling | Stepping back | Health, relevance | Mortality | Acceptance | Giving back | Sage |
| Legacy | Final chapter | Surrendering control | Decline | Facing death | Peace | Saying goodbye | What remains |
Milestone Decisions
Key decisions at each life stage. Click through for guidance.
Act 1: Child (Foundation)
- How do I learn effectively?
- Who can I trust?
- What am I naturally drawn to?
Act 2: Student (Identity)
- What should I study? — or build instead?
- Who do I want to become?
- How do I think independently?
- How do I develop agency? — the 2026 curriculum shift
Act 3: Worker (Independence)
- How do I earn a living?
- What career path fits me?
- How do I build valuable skills?
- Should I start a business?
Act 4: Partner (Connection)
- How do I choose a life partner?
- How do I build trust?
- How do I navigate conflict?
- How do I manage money together?
Act 5: Parent (Leadership)
- How do I raise children well?
- How do I lead a community?
- How do I balance work and family?
- What values do I pass on?
Act 6: Elder (Wisdom)
- How do I mentor effectively?
- How do I stay relevant?
- How do I manage health?
- What is my legacy?
Act 7: Legacy (Integration)
- How do I let go gracefully?
- How do I face mortality?
- What remains when I'm gone?
- How do I make peace?
The Loop Within Each Act
Every act follows the same pattern:
PERCEIVE (read the game)
↓
QUESTION (what matters?)
↓
ACT (make the decision)
↓
MEASURE (learn from outcome)
↓
LOOP (better questions)
See Thought Audit to check your operating state.
Fear at Each Threshold
What blocks progress at each stage:
| Stage | Common Fear | The Lie | The Truth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child → Student | "I'm not smart enough" | Identity is fixed | Growth is always possible |
| Student → Worker | "I'll pick wrong" | One path determines all | You can pivot |
| Worker → Partner | "I'll lose freedom" | Love is constraint | Love is expansion |
| Partner → Parent | "I'll fail them" | Perfect parents exist | Good enough is enough |
| Parent → Elder | "I'm becoming irrelevant" | Youth = value | Wisdom compounds |
| Elder → Legacy | "It was all meaningless" | Impact requires fame | Ripples outlast waves |
Mastery
Each act has domains to master:
| Act | Physical | Mental | Social | Spiritual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child | Motor skills | Language, basics | Family bonds | Wonder |
| Student | Health habits | Learning to learn | Friendship | Identity |
| Worker | Energy management | Domain expertise | Network | Purpose |
| Partner | Intimacy | Emotional intelligence | Deep trust | Commitment |
| Parent | Endurance | Patience | Leadership | Sacrifice |
| Elder | Longevity | Perspective | Mentorship | Acceptance |
| Legacy | Letting go | Peace | Gratitude | Transcendence |
Context
- Thought Audit - Check your operating state
- Archetypes - The parts you play
- Flow State - Peak performance
- Time and Energy - Your finite resources
- VVFL Loop - The feedback loop that compounds
- Education Transformation - The game as curriculum
- 2026 Predictions - Agency becomes the subject