Restart: What Gaming Teaches Us About Resilience

One thing I’ve always appreciated about games is how they build failure into the experience. No one expects you to beat every level on the first try. You’re supposed to experiment, mess up, adapt, and try again. That’s the whole point. Somewhere along the way, life convinced us that setbacks mean we’re broken or behind. We forget that growth, like gaming, is built on retries.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. There are times when I’ve had to restart in life: new roles, new routines, new habits. Each restart initially felt frustrating, but I eventually came to see it differently. A restart isn’t the end. It’s another chance to keep playing.

When Life Feels Like a Boss Fight

Life has its boss fights. Some are predictable, like bills, deadlines, or tough conversations. Others come out of nowhere like health scares, layoffs, or unexpected changes in relationships.

And just like in a game, you’re not always prepared. Sometimes you walk in with the wrong mindset or the wrong tools. You take a few hits before you figure out the rhythm. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re learning as you go.

“Setbacks don’t mean failure. They’re just part of learning the level.”

The Power of Restarting Without Shame

In games, restarting is normal. Nobody drags shame into the next attempt. You might be annoyed, but you don’t stop playing. That’s a mindset I’ve been working to carry into my real life. What if I treated restarts as progress instead of proof that I messed up? Missed a goal I set for myself? Restart. Dropped the ball on something at work? Restart. Fell off my content schedule for Reggie in Beta? Restart.

“Restarting isn’t failure. It’s practice.”

A restart doesn’t erase what you’ve already done. It builds on it. Each time you try again, you bring forward what you’ve learned from the last attempt.

Three Takeaways for Your Own Restarts

Here are a few ways I’ve been reframing setbacks that might also help you.

1. Treat Setbacks Like Checkpoints, Not Endings

In most games, when you lose, you restart from your last checkpoint, not the very beginning. Life works the same way if you zoom out. One mistake doesn’t wipe away everything you’ve built. Take a step back, notice how far you’ve come, and keep moving from where you left off.

2. Build Your “Respawn Routine”

Gamers often adjust gear, change tactics, or rethink strategy after losing. In life, your respawn routine might look like journaling after a rough day, setting an earlier bedtime, or shifting your priorities. The key is to pause and ask yourself, “What can I adjust this time?” Small changes create significant differences over time.

3. Avoid the Rage Quit

We’ve all had those moments where we want to throw the controller and be done with it. In real life, that looks like ghosting responsibilities, ignoring messages, or walking away from challenging situations completely. Taking a break is healthy. Quitting altogether usually robs you of growth. Step back, reset your energy, and return when you’re ready.

“Sometimes the best move isn’t quitting. It’s pausing long enough to come back stronger.”

Living in Beta Means Restarting Often

Part of why I named this blog Reggie in Beta is because I see life as an ongoing update. There are new levels, new challenges, and constant debugging. Restarts are part of the process.

Gaming taught me that restarting doesn’t erase progress. It’s proof that you’re still in the game. That’s what resilience really looks like: showing up again and again, no matter how many times you’ve had to restart.

Closing Encouragement

If you’re in a season where it feels like you’re respawning more than you’re moving forward, I hope this gives you a little encouragement. You’re not failing. You’re practicing. Each restart is proof that you’re learning, adapting, and refusing to quit. Restart as often as you need to. And if this post resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend who might need the reminder too.