Hey ,
After my recent mail where I mentioned chess, some people reached out to ask me the same question:
“Do you think chess is something I should learn?”
My honest answer?
Yes.
Not just because it is a game, but because of what it teaches you about life.
I learned how to play chess as a child, and till today, I still see how much it has shaped the way I think as an adult.
One of the biggest things chess taught me is the importance of thinking ahead.
In chess, you cannot afford to only think about the current move. You must think beyond the present moment. Before you move a piece, you are already considering possible responses, consequences, risks, and opportunities.
You begin to ask yourself:
“If I make this move, what happens next?”
That mindset has helped me greatly in life.
It has helped me in decision-making.
It has helped me in relationships.
It has helped me in business and marketing.
It has helped me financially.
Because life also works like that.
Actions have consequences.
Choices create outcomes.
And many people suffer simply because they do not think ahead.
Another thing chess taught me is patience.
You cannot rush every move emotionally. Sometimes the wrong move is made because of impatience. Sometimes you need to pause, observe carefully, and think properly before acting.
That lesson alone can save people from many avoidable mistakes in life.
Chess also taught me that positioning matters.
Sometimes you are not losing because you are weak. You are losing because you are poorly positioned.
That applies to life too.
Environment matters.
Relationships matter.
Preparation matters.
I also learned that every move comes with sacrifice.
In chess, sometimes you give up one piece to protect something more important. That principle applies deeply to life. Every yes is also a no to something else. Every major decision costs something.
And finally, chess taught me responsibility.
You cannot blame anybody for your moves.
If you make poor decisions consistently, eventually you will see the consequences on the board.
Life works similarly.
Now, does learning chess automatically make someone wise? No.
But I do think it trains your mind in powerful ways if you pay attention to the lessons inside it.
Even beyond chess, I think everybody should intentionally engage in things that stretch their thinking capacity. Things that teach patience, strategy, foresight, discipline, and analysis.
For me, chess became more than a game.
It became a way of thinking.
And years later, I am still benefiting from lessons I first encountered as a child sitting behind a chessboard.
Your Fave,
Darasimi
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